Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has been re-arrested and placed in solitary confinement after a Seoul court approved a new detention warrant in connection with an ongoing investigation into his attempt to impose martial law in late 2024. This latest legal move intensifies the criminal case against the ousted leader, who is now facing a growing list of serious charges including insurrection, abuse of power, obstruction of justice, and illegal use of state security forces.
The Seoul Central District Court approved the warrant on July 9, citing concerns that Yoon posed a risk of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses. He was subsequently taken into custody and transferred to the Seoul Detention Centre in Uiwang, where he is being held alone in a 10-square-meter cell with minimal amenities. Prison officials confirmed that Yoon is wearing a khaki prison uniform and has access only to a small electric fan amid high summer temperatures.
Yoon’s re-arrest comes just four months after he was released from his first detention due to a procedural error. His initial arrest in January followed his impeachment in December 2024 by the National Assembly after attempting to declare martial law under the pretext of national security threats. The martial law decree was issued and rescinded within hours, but it triggered widespread political backlash and legal scrutiny.
Prosecutors have since expanded their investigation, accusing Yoon of orchestrating drone flights over North Korea in October and November 2024. These actions, they allege, were part of a covert operation to escalate tensions with Pyongyang and create a false security crisis to justify his martial law declaration. In addition to insurrection, Yoon is also being investigated for falsification of documents and misuse of the presidential security apparatus.
During the detention hearing, Yoon’s legal team argued that the new charges lacked merit and claimed the renewed detention request was politically motivated. Outside the courtroom, dozens of supporters rallied in his defense, alleging that the current administration under President Lee Jae-myung is using the justice system to target political opponents.
The court's decision allows prosecutors to hold Yoon for up to 20 days for further questioning. If formal charges are filed, his detention could extend up to six months while awaiting trial. Legal experts note that if convicted on insurrection charges, Yoon could face life imprisonment or even the death penalty, although South Korea has not carried out executions since 1997.
This re-arrest marks a significant moment in South Korea’s political history. Yoon is the first former president to be detained twice within the same investigation cycle and the first to be charged with attempting a military-style takeover while in office. The unfolding case is expected to test the strength of South Korea’s democratic institutions and the independence of its judiciary in handling high-profile political crimes.