In a significant development, former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been re-arrested due to his involvement in a controversial martial law attempt that caused a political crisis last year. Initially detained in January after a dramatic standoff with law enforcement, Yoon was taken from his home amid barricades and barbed wire.
He was released two months later when a court annulled his arrest on procedural grounds, but he still faces ongoing legal proceedings.
Yoon was impeached in April for his actions that led to a brief military rule in December. Recently, a senior judge from Seoul's Central District Court issued a new arrest warrant, expressing concerns that Yoon might tamper with evidence, as reported by the BBC.
Notably, Yoon is the first sitting president in South Korea to be arrested and is now facing charges related to leading an insurrection due to his martial law declaration.
During a lengthy seven-hour court session, a special counsel team presented arguments for the arrest warrant based on five significant allegations, as cited by the BBC and South Korean news agency Yonhap.
Among the accusations is Yoon's alleged infringement on the rights of his cabinet members by excluding some from a crucial meeting prior to the martial law announcement.
Yoon appeared at the hearing with his legal team to contest the charges before being taken to the Seoul Detention Center, where he awaits the court's decision on the warrant.
Reports indicate that prosecutors have uncovered evidence suggesting Yoon ordered military drones to fly over North Korea, aiming to elicit a response that would validate his martial law declaration.
Several other high-ranking officials are also facing charges related to insurrection and misuse of power concerning the martial law order.
In South Korea, insurrection is one of the few criminal offenses that does not grant immunity to presidents, and now that Yoon is no longer in office, he is susceptible to various criminal charges.
Following Yoon's impeachment, Lee Jae-myung was elected as the new president in June during a snap election. Lee's campaign focused on reinforcing democracy in the nation and he has since appointed a special counsel to investigate Yoon's martial law imposition and other alleged misconduct during his presidency.