New Trial for Ousted South Korean President Over Attempt to Impose Martial Law

SadaNews - The ousted South Korean President, Yoon Suk-yeol, appeared in court today (Friday) at the start of a new trial on charges of obstructing justice, following weeks of his absence from a separate ongoing trial related to allegedly orchestrating a rebellion through his failed attempt to impose martial law.

Yoon, 64, appeared noticeably thinner with shorter, grayer hair after more than two months of being out of the public eye in prison and refusing to attend the trial since early July for health reasons, as reported by Reuters.

The former conservative president faces new charges, including obstruction of justice stemming from his attempt to prevent investigators from trying to arrest him in January when his powers were suspended by a parliamentary decision to impeach him, as he barricaded himself inside the presidential compound.

The charges were brought by a specially appointed prosecutor assigned in June, whose team expanded the investigation into Yoon and several former government and military officials. Additionally, Yoon, who was removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April, is under investigation by another specially appointed prosecutor, who has brought corruption charges against the former president's wife.

Yoon has denied committing any of the offenses. He stated that the declaration of martial law in December was within his presidential powers. He dismissed all investigations against him as politically motivated. If convicted of the new indictment, the penalty could be more than three years in prison. Yoon is already facing the death penalty or life imprisonment if found guilty of the rebellion charge.