Key Points
First South Korean president formally arrested and charged with serious crimes
Accused of plotting illegal martial law and threatening National Assembly
Presidential powers suspended pending constitutional court deliberation
Dramatic legal and political crisis unfolding in South Korea
Yoon was put on trial in custody as the suspected ringleader of insurrection, becoming the country's first incumbent president to be formally arrested and indicted, Xinhua news agency reported.
Yoon was accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who had already been indicted under detention, to declare unconstitutional, illegal martial law and dispatch armed forces into the National Assembly.
After receiving Yoon's case from the anti-corruption agency, the prosecution requested Yoon's extended arrest twice for supplementary investigation, but the Seoul Central District Court repeatedly rejected it to bring Yoon to trial as early as possible.
A warrant to keep Yoon in custody for up to 20 days, including the arrest period, was issued by another Seoul court on January 19.
Yoon was apprehended in the presidential office on January 15.
The motion to impeach Yoon was passed through the National Assembly on Dec. 14 last year and was delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.
Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of December 3. It was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.
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