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Former Leader Faces New Detention
South Korea's ousted president Yoon Suk-yeol has been jailed again after a Seoul court approved prosecutors' arrest warrant. Authorities expressed concerns that Yoon might destroy evidence if he remained free during his ongoing trial.
Political Crisis Background
The crisis began in December 2024 when Yoon attempted to declare martial law to sideline parliament. He accused opposition parties of obstructing governance and sympathizing with North Korea. Massive protests forced him to retract the order within hours.
Legal Proceedings Timeline
Parliament suspended Yoon in January 2025 before removing him from office. He faces charges of high treason and abuse of power. After 52 days in detention, a court released him in March to await trial outside jail.
Potential Consequences
If convicted, Yoon could receive life imprisonment or theoretically the death penalty, though South Korea maintains an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997. The current detention relates specifically to evidence-tampering risks.
New Political Landscape
Lee Jae-myung assumed presidency last month after winning June's special election. His Democratic Party now controls parliament. Lee previously lost to Yoon by less than 1% in the 2022 presidential race.
