South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is embroiled in a series of legal challenges as he fights to salvage his political career and evade imprisonment after his brief imposition of martial law last year. Yoon's December 3 decree, which banned political activities and deployed troops to the heart of South Korea's democracy, sparked widespread turmoil. The move was swiftly reversed within six hours after lawmakers intervened, leading to Yoon's impeachment by parliament on December 14.
Despite facing impeachment, Yoon remains defiant and has vowed to fight the charges. The Constitutional Court is currently reviewing his impeachment, with a ruling expected in March. If the impeachment is upheld, Yoon would become the shortest-serving president in South Korea's democratic history, triggering new presidential elections within 60 days.
Yoon also faces a separate criminal trial for leading an insurrection with his martial law decree. The indictment alleges that Yoon's actions were an illegal attempt to shut down the National Assembly and arrest politicians and election authorities. Yoon, who has been held in solitary confinement since his arrest in January, maintains that his decree was a temporary warning to the opposition.
The legal proceedings are ongoing, with the next preliminary hearing scheduled for March. Yoon's insurrection trial is anticipated to last months, with a verdict likely by late 2025 or early 2026. Meanwhile, police are investigating Yoon for obstruction of public duty, a charge punishable by up to five years in jail.
The aftermath of Yoon's martial law declaration has plunged South Korea into political disarray, leading to the impeachment of the prime minister and acting president. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok now serves as the acting president amidst the ongoing legal battles involving President Yoon Suk Yeol.
