South Korea begins new trial of ousted President Yoon over failed martial law

Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at a court in Seoul, South Korea, July 9, 2025
Reuters

South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in court on Friday (26 September) at the start of a new trial on obstruction charges after weeks of boycotting a separate ongoing trial for masterminding insurrection by leading a failed martial law bid.

Yoon, 64, looked slimmer with greyer, cropped hair after over two months in prison and skipping trial since July for health reasons.

The conservative ex-president faces new obstruction charges for blocking investigators in January after his impeachment, when he barricaded himself in the presidential compound.

The new charges were brought by a special prosecutor who was appointed in June and whose team has widened a probe of Yoon and several former government and military officials.

Yoon, who was removed from office in April by the Constitutional Court, is also being investigated by another special prosecutor who has indicted his wife for corruption.

Yoon has denied all wrongdoing and said it was within his powers as president to declare martial law in December. He has rejected all investigations against him as politically motivated.

The new indictment carries a prison term of more than three years on conviction. Yoon already faces the death sentence or life in prison if found guilty on insurrection charges.

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