TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested for the second time and sent back to solitary jail cell over his failed attempt to impose martial law in December.
Yoon's detention on Thursday, July 10, 2025, came after a court in the South Korean capital, Seoul, ordered his arrest. The court, as reported by Aljazeera , cited concerns that the former leader and ex-prosecutor could tamper with evidence.
The 64-year-old politician, who is standing trial on charges of insurrection, is being held at the Seoul Detention Center, where he spent 52 days earlier this year before being released four months ago on technical grounds.
Yoon plunged South Korea into a political crisis when he sought to overthrow the civilian government on December 3. He dispatched armed troops to the parliament to block lawmakers from rejecting his declaration of martial law.
He became the first sitting South Korean president to be detained in a predawn raid in January, after weeks of resisting arrest and using his presidential guards to fend off investigators.
However, he was released on procedural grounds in March.
The South Korean Constitutional Court later ousted Yoon from his position in April, paving the way for a snap presidential election, which was held in June.
The country's new president, Lee Jae Myung, approved a law launching a thorough investigation into Yoon's push for martial law and various criminal allegations linked to his government and his wife.
Earlier this month, special advisers questioned Yoon about his resistance during the failed January arrest. He is also being probed for allegedly allowing drone flights to Pyongyang to justify the imposition of martial law.
Yoon defended his decision on martial law as necessary to "root out" pro-North Korean forces and "antistate" elements.
The latest arrest warrant for Yoon allows his detention for up to 20 days, as prosecutors prepare to formally charge him, including with additional allegations.
“Once Yoon is indicted, he could remain detained for up to six months following indictment,” said Yun Bok-nam, president of Lawyers for a Democratic Society.
“Theoretically, immediate release is possible, but in this case, the special counsel has argued that the risk of evidence destruction remains high, and that the charges are already substantially supported.”
At Wednesday's arrest warrant hearing, Yoon's legal team criticized the detention request as irrational, emphasizing that Yoon has been ousted and "no longer holds any authority."
The former president also spoke during the seven-hour-long hearing, saying that he is now "fighting alone," according to South Korean media.
“The special counsel is now going after even my defense lawyers,” Yoon complained. “One by one, my lawyers are stepping away, and I may soon have to fight this alone.”
Meanwhile, Yoon's lawyers stated that the former leader would not attend the 10th hearing of his insurrection trial on Thursday following his arrest.
Citing health reasons, Yoon's attorneys submitted his written excuse for absence to the court just moments before the scheduled trial began, according to South Korea's official news agency, Yonhap.
However, his lawyers were present in his stead, the agency added. If found guilty, Yoon could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Editor’s Choice: Yoon Suk Yeol Attends Detention Hearing on Coup-Related Charges
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