South Korea’s Ex-President Yoon Detained Again Over Martial Law Attempt

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained for a second time following a court-approved warrant amid a special counsel investigation into his attempt to impose martial law last December, an act that plunged the country into political crisis. Prosecutors cited concerns that Yoon might destroy evidence as the reason for his re-arrest, returning him to a solitary, non-air-conditioned cell at the Seoul Detention Center, where he previously spent 52 days before being released on technical grounds. Yoon faces insurrection charges that could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty, and his trial continues even as he has not attended recent hearings citing health issues. After being ousted by South Korea’s Constitutional Court in April, the new administration under President Lee Jae Myung has launched sweeping investigations into Yoon's actions and related criminal accusations. Despite his defense that martial law was necessary to counter pro-North Korean forces, Yoon's detention reflects growing legal scrutiny over his abuse of power and obstruction of justice. His treatment in detention includes basic food provisions, a khaki prison uniform, and reliance on a small fan amid a heatwave, underscoring the severity of his legal predicament.