Former President Yoon Suk-yeol summoned again for rebellion charges

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol has been summoned for his second investigation by the second comprehensive special prosecutor's team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young. The investigation centers on allegations of rebellion, stemming from the deployment of troops to the National Assembly during a state of emergency declared on December 3, 2024.

Yoon, who is currently in detention, arrived at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon City, Gyeonggi Province, via a Ministry of Justice escort vehicle. This is his second appearance before the team, following his initial summons on June 6. During the previous investigation, the focus was on charges of abuse of power for allegedly influencing foreign allies to justify the emergency measures.

The current probe examines Yoon's alleged conspiracy with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and others to deploy armed soldiers to the National Assembly, constituting an act of rebellion under the Military Criminal Act. The special prosecutor's team is referencing a 1997 Supreme Court ruling that defined rebellion to include actions against "military command structures" and "state institutions." They argue that Yoon's deployment of the military to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission fits the criteria for rebellion against state institutions.

The charge of rebellion carries a more severe penalty than sedition, with potential sentences including the death penalty for the leader of a rebellion. The special prosecutor's team has already indicted Kim Yong-hyun and several other former military officials on rebellion charges. However, Yoon and his legal team argue that the special prosecutor's charges overlap with existing charges of sedition for which Yoon is already on trial, constituting double jeopardy. The special prosecutor's team is reportedly considering whether to drop charges against Yoon, pending the outcome of his investigation.