Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been indicted for abuse of authority, adding to the legal troubles stemming from an insurrection trial. His martial law declaration led to armed soldiers being deployed at parliament, which was swiftly overturned by oppositional MPs, resulting in his impeachment. Yoon was stripped of power by the Constitutional Court and currently faces serious charges that could lead to a life sentence or death if convicted, in a country where capital punishment has been largely suspended, highlighting South Korea's political instability ahead of a snap election.
Prosecutors first indicted him in January when he was still president as the ringleader of an insurrection, a charge not covered by presidential immunity.
This latest indictment adds further legal jeopardy for Yoon who is already facing an ongoing trial on insurrection charges.
Parliamentarians later impeached Yoon over the martial law declaration, and he was stripped of all power and privileges in April.
If convicted of the insurrection charge, Yoon could be sentenced to life in prison or death, although South Korea has had an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997.
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