South Korea: Former President Yeol again jailed in martial law case

Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been rearrested in connection with his last year’s controversial decision to impose martial law. The decision triggered a major political crisis and ultimately led to his impeachment in April this year. A senior judge at Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon yesterday, citing concerns he might tamper with or destroy evidence. After a seven-hour hearing, Yoon was taken into custody. Of the five key charges against Yoon, one is bypassing of legal protocols by excluding certain cabinet members from a critical meeting before declaring the martial law. The former president and his legal team have denied the charges. Yoon was earlier arrested in January after a dramatic standoff and was released two months later when a court nullified the arrest on procedural grounds.