Korea's political arena is once again in turmoil. At around midnight on Thursday, Seoul Central District Court approved a new arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, sending him back to a detention center.
The reason is that he briefly imposed martial law last December, which is suspected of being illegal, and there is a risk of evidence destruction. This means that the former hardline president and chief prosecutor may now face a longer trial and investigation behind bars.
Yoon Suk-yeol faces a second arrest
This was Yoon's first arrest earlier this year, but the court rejected the application for continued detention in March, allowing him to be tried without being detained. However, this time, the team led by special prosecutor Jo Eun-sik submitted new evidence, eventually convincing the court to approve the arrest.
The incident has reignited storms in South Korean politics and once again brought people's attention to Yoon and his family—especially the controversial wife, Kim Jae-hyun—and the collective decline of conservative political forces.
Loss of Control Behind the Brief Martial Law
The event dates back to December 3rd last year. Faced with opposition parties holding a majority in the National Assembly and continuously blocking the agenda, Yoon decided to take a desperate gamble, suddenly declaring national martial law. He called it a necessary measure to "crush anti-state liberal forces."
Yoon issues the martial law order
However, the martial law order lasted only a few hours. Members of parliament forcefully broke through armed soldiers' blockades and quickly convened an emergency meeting, passing a vote to abolish the martial law. This unprecedented constitutional crisis shocked the entire Korean society.
On December 14th, Yoon was impeached by the National Assembly; on January 26th this year, prosecutors charged him with attempted rebellion, accusing him of trying to illegally control the legislature and election commission and suppressing opposing voices using the presidential security force. These charges can carry the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Yoon's defense team insists that this action was to "prevent the collapse of national order" and was in accordance with the law. However, the prosecution found that Yoon bypassed the cabinet meeting, did not follow procedures to decide major state matters, and ordered the use of the presidential security force to prevent law enforcement from arresting himself.
Second Arrest: The Special Prosecutor's Persistent Pressure
The key factor leading to this second detention was the team led by special prosecutor Jo Eun-sik. They submitted more evidence of Yoon's alleged obstruction of official duties, abuse of power, and falsification of documents, and believed that Yoon posed a risk of destroying evidence.
Prosecutor General Jo Eun-sik
On Wednesday afternoon, Yoon arrived at the court and underwent a seven-hour hearing. After the hearing, he was taken to a detention center near the capital to await the court's decision. Eventually, the court decided to arrest him, and Yoon was detained. The initial detention period can last up to 20 days, but if the prosecution brings new charges, the detention can be extended to six months until the court makes its preliminary ruling.
According to South Korea's judicial procedure, if new charges are discovered during this period, the detention could last for several years.
Family Secrets: The Shadow of Kim Jae-hyun
What complicates the case further is that Yoon's wife, Kim Jae-hyun, is also deeply involved in multiple accusations, becoming an important part of this storm.
Kim Jae-hyun has long been accused of fabricating academic papers, manipulating the stock market, and illegally receiving corporate sponsorships during the Moon Jae-in administration. Her political synergy with her husband has raised public doubts, with some critics suggesting that she held actual influence beyond the traditional role of "first lady" during Yoon's tenure.
More sensitive is that the prosecution's investigation mentioned that before announcing the martial law, Yoon had intense discussions with his family, and some testimonies suggest that Kim Jae-hyun may have participated in related decisions. Although there is currently no conclusive evidence proving her direct involvement in illegal orders, the public generally suspects her behind-the-scenes influence.
The current president, Lee Jae-myung's government has approved a special investigation into multiple criminal charges against Yoon and his family. Political commentators point out that if Kim Jae-hyun is formally charged, she could become the first former first lady in modern Korean history to be caught up in a judicial storm due to the "martial law scandal."
Korea's Political "Fate": From the Summit of Power to the Bars
Arrest, imprisonment, even death for former presidents in South Korea seems almost like a political fate. Park Geun-hye was sentenced to prison for "friend interference"; Roh Moo-hyun, after leaving office, was investigated for corruption and ultimately committed suicide; Lee Myung-bak was sentenced to 17 years for corruption.
Yoon once sent Park Geun-hye to prison
Yoon has also followed the same path, which is particularly ironic, as he once ran for president as a "anti-corruption fighter," advocating for the elimination of entrenched interests, but ultimately faced the same judicial system for "illegal martial law."
Conservative media criticize this detention as a "political purge," accusing the current government of using the judiciary to suppress conservative forces. However, supporters argue that it represents the rejection of "strongman rule" by South Korean society.
Liberal Retaliation and Conservative Decline
Yoon's attempt at martial law last December directly led to the rapid downfall of the conservative faction. In April, the Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment decision; in June's early presidential election, liberal candidate Lee Jae-myung won and quickly gathered a majority in the National Assembly, focusing on thoroughly investigating Yoon's "abuse of power" during his tenure.
Lee Jae-myung
Lee Jae-myung's government also approved a special investigation targeting Yoon and his family, and actively adjusted policy directions on foreign and economic issues, re-balancing relations with major powers such as the US and China, attempting to reverse the hardline approach of Yoon's administration.
The conservative faction is facing internal division and image crises: on one hand, grassroots voters are disappointed due to economic difficulties and social divisions; on the other hand, senior party members are divided over whether to continue supporting Yoon.
Possible Future Developments
Analysts believe that after Yoon's current detention, the prosecution is likely to bring more charges to extend his detention. If the court finds some charges valid, he may be detained throughout the trial and eventually face a long sentence.
Additionally, the special investigation may continue to delve into core circles such as Kim Jae-hyun, and even involve more former government officials and advisors.
For South Korea, this is not just a trial about individual fate, but also a confrontation between constitutional order and strongman politics. The Korean society must answer: which is the unbreakable bottom line between national security and checks and balances of power?
Conclusion: The Figure Behind the Bars and the Cost of Democracy
Yoon Suk-yeol, who once fought corruption as a prosecutor and won votes with an "iron-fisted" image, now wears handcuffs again, facing a judicial trial. His story is another lesson on the boundaries and responsibilities of power on South Korea's democratic journey.
Beneath the case, deeper issues remain to be answered: when a president claims to be the guardian of national security, yet crosses legal lines, how should society respond? What kind of family and power structure does Kim Jae-hyun's role reveal? South Korean society is paying a heavy price to write down this answer once again.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7525246053823414830/
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