“After reviewing the evidence (…), we decided that it was reasonable to prosecute the accused,” the prosecutor told the Korean media company Ytn.
64-year-old Yoon was arrested in a large police operation on January 15 after refusing to appear with investigators and instead barricaded himself in the presidential palace.
He is accused of being a “leader” in an attempt to conduct a coup d’état after his unsuccessful proclamation of a state of emergency.
First president to be prosecuted
In addition to the criminal investigation, Yoon’s future as president must also be taken up by the country’s constitutional court. With the prosecution, he becomes the first incumbent president in South Korea to be arrested and charged with crime.
On Saturday, prosecutors tried to extend the arrest of the president until February 6, but this was rejected by the judge on the grounds that there was not a sufficient basis for an extension.
It was the prosecutor’s second attempt to have the detention period extended. The first attempt was also rejected by the Seoul court.
Yoon has denied crime and called the state of emergency too legitimate.
During its announcement of the state of emergency, the Yoon National Assembly called “a hole of criminals” and promised to eliminate “shameless North Korea supporters and hostile forces”.