Yoon Suk Yeol, the former president of South Korea, was rearrested early Thursday as he faces a new wave of legal troubles. Currently on trial for insurrection, Yoon had previously been released from jail due to a procedural error in his initial detention, but now finds himself back in custody following further accusations from a special prosecutor.
Yoon, who was impeached by the South Korean legislature in December 2024 for his ill-fated attempt to impose martial law, saw his initial arrest in January. He made history as the first sitting president to be indicted on criminal charges in South Korea. His release in March was a result of a judge's ruling that the prosecutors miscalculated the allowable detention period before formally indicting him.
Despite being impeached and formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April, Yoon previously attended his trial freely, often spotted in public areas around southern Seoul. His legal issues continue to escalate as several of his former military and police officials, including his ex-defense minister, remain imprisoned for their roles in helping him attempt insurrection. The unfolding events suggest a continuing political upheaval in South Korea as the nation navigates the aftermath of Yoon's presidency.
