South Korea’s Ousted President Yoon Faces Historic Rebellion Trial Over Martial Law Decree

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is now facing trial on serious rebellion charges, marking a dramatic continuation of his legal and political downfall. Just ten days after being removed from office for declaring martial law, Yoon appeared in court for the first time on Monday. His December decision to impose military rule and deploy troops onto the streets of Seoul made him the first South Korean president to be criminally indicted while still in office. If found guilty of rebellion, he could be sentenced to life in prison or even face the death penalty.

The trial, currently underway at the Seoul Central District Court, is expected to take two to three years, given the number of witnesses and documents involved. The court is examining whether Yoon’s declaration of martial law and the mobilization of military forces amounted to an attempt to orchestrate a rebellion. According to criminal law expert Park SungBae, a conviction is likely, especially since the Constitutional Court has already ruled that Yoon’s actions were unconstitutional and seriously damaged public trust, causing widespread disruption in society, politics, and the economy.

Yoon has rejected the rebellion charges brought by prosecutors earlier this year. He argues that his decree was a peaceful and urgent move aimed at exposing what he called the liberal opposition’s misuse of legislative power to block his policy agenda. In court, he emphasized that the declaration lasted only a few hours, involved no violence, and was immediately lifted once the National Assembly demanded its repeal. He criticized the charges as legally unfounded, stating that it was improper to treat a short-lived, nonviolent event as a rebellion.

Some observers have expressed skepticism about whether Yoon’s actions truly meet the legal definition of rebellion since there were no major violent clashes or civilian casualties. However, the trial’s central question is whether his deployment of troops to government buildings, including the National Assembly and election commission offices, was a deliberate move to shut down those institutions. Under the constitution, even martial law does not grant a president the power to suspend the legislature. Yoon’s order did call for a halt to political activity in parliament, raising concerns about constitutional violations.

Yoon insists that he never intended to disable the legislature and says he was ready to accept any parliamentary decision regarding martial law. Lawmakers voted to lift the decree just hours after it was announced. But some military commanders have testified that Yoon instructed them to remove lawmakers from the chamber to stop the vote, contradicting his claims. The court will now focus on whether Yoon’s actions were meant to undermine the democratic system, with careful analysis of the circumstances and the military’s role in the events.

The fallout from Yoon’s impeachment has already triggered a snap presidential election, scheduled for June 3. The winner will serve a full five-year term. Although Yoon has been removed from power, analysts believe he still holds influence within his conservative People Power Party and may try to support a candidate who could later grant him a pardon if convicted. In a public message last week, Yoon thanked his supporters and pledged to keep working toward building what he called a free and prosperous South Korea.

Since losing presidential immunity, Yoon could also face additional charges, such as abuse of power, stemming from the martial law episode. Legal experts expect the trial to be lengthy due to its complexity, though some believe a verdict could come within a year. Appeals could extend the process to the Supreme Court, but even that is not expected to take more than another year. The case, involving a rare charge of rebellion against a former president, is likely to be one of the most closely watched legal battles in South Korean history.

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