South Korea’s Yoon Suk Yeol has been charged with attempted martial law

Deposed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been charged with sedition after attempting to declare martial law in December.

His ill-fated attempt to impose military rule plunged the country into an unprecedented political crisis and has made him the first president in South Korean history to be charged with a crime.

The complaint comes after a Seoul court on Saturday rejected a request to extend Yoon’s detention, meaning prosecutors had until Monday to decide whether to charge or release him.

“The punishment of the rebel leader finally begins now,” Han Min-soo, a spokesman for the main opposition Democratic Party, told a news conference.

Separately, the Constitutional Court has begun debating whether to formally remove or reinstate Yoon as president.

The impeached president has largely refused to cooperate criminal investigation above the declaration of martial law.

Yoon will stand trial alongside his former defense minister and senior military commanders, who are accused of helping to plan and carry out the attempt to seize full power.

In an unprecedented televised announcement on December 3, Yoon said he was declaring martial law to protect the country from “anti-state” forces aligned with North Korea.

At the time, the embattled leader was deadlocked over a budget bill, beset by corruption scandals and several of his cabinet ministers under investigation.

The military announced that they had suspended all parliamentary activity and wanted to impose controls on the media.

Leader of the opposition Democratic Party Lee Jae-myung called on people to protest in the National Assembly and urged his lawmakers to immediately vote to repeal the order.

Less than two hours after Yoon’s declaration, the assembled 190 lawmakers – including some from the president’s party – voted unanimously to block him.

Soldiers armed with rifles were seen entering the parliament building through broken windows as a fierce clash ensued.

Thousands of civilians gathered in front of the assembly and tried to block the soldiers.

Yoon was impeached by parliament and suspended from his duties on December 14.

The affair has sparked South Korea’s worst political crisis in decades and polarized the country.

Many of his die-hard followers have rallied around him. On Friday, tens of thousands gathered to protest, demanding his release and reinstatement.

If Yoon is removed from office, a presidential election would be held within 60 days.

The prosecutor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.