Yoon Suk Yeol’s Defiant Prison Protest Shocks South Korea
Ex-President’s Shocking Prison Protest Stuns Nation!
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol escalated his resistance against legal authorities on Friday, refusing to attend questioning by stripping off his prison uniform and lying on the floor of his cell at the Seoul Detention Center. This unprecedented act of defiance marks a new low in the ongoing legal saga surrounding the disgraced leader, who was impeached and removed from office in April 2025 following his controversial imposition of martial law.
Yoon, a conservative and former prosecutor, faces a high-stakes trial for rebellion and other charges tied to his December 3, 2024, martial law decree, which briefly saw armed troops deployed in Seoul. The decree, unanimously overturned by lawmakers within hours, was condemned as an unconstitutional power grab. Yoon justified it as a desperate measure to counter the “wickedness” of the Democratic Party, then led by Lee Jae Myung, which he accused of obstructing his agenda, impeaching key officials, and slashing the government’s budget.
Beyond the rebellion charges, Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, are under investigation for allegedly exerting improper influence over the People Power Party’s 2022 election nomination process. Special Counsel Min Joong-ki, appointed by President Lee Jae Myung, Yoon’s liberal successor, sent investigators to retrieve Yoon for questioning on Friday. Despite holding a court-issued warrant authorizing the use of force, the team refrained from physical intervention due to safety concerns after Yoon’s dramatic protest.
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“Without wearing his prison uniform, the suspect lay down on the floor and strongly resisted detention,” said Assistant Special Counsel Oh Jeong-hee in a televised briefing. She warned that the warrant would be enforced in future attempts and urged Yoon to cooperate, emphasizing that South Koreans are watching to ensure the law applies equally to all.
Yoon’s legal team has cited health issues, including cardiovascular, autonomic nervous system, and eye problems, claiming he risks blindness without medical treatment. These claims, attributed to an unidentified hospital, follow Yoon’s history of evading authorities, including three ignored summons and a January 2025 standoff at his residence. Supporters, rallying near the detention center, have waved South Korean and U.S. flags, alleging electoral fraud, while critics accuse Yoon of undermining democracy.
The controversy has deepened South Korea’s political divide, with the nation awaiting the outcome of Yoon’s trial, which could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty. As investigations intensify, Yoon’s prison protest highlights the challenges of prosecuting a former leader in a polarized society.
