SEOUL (Jan 16): Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is due to face the first court ruling on Friday stemming from criminal charges over his failed martial law attempt, a case that could result in a long prison sentence if he is found guilty. His arrest was the first ever for a sitting president in South Korea. Prosecutors have asked the court to give him the death sentence on this charge, with a ruling scheduled for February. Parliament, joined by some members of Yoon's conservative party, voted within hours to overturn his surprise martial law decree and later impeached him, suspending his powers. While his bid to impose martial law lasted only about six hours, it sent shockwaves through South Korea, which is Asia's fourth-largest economy, a key US security ally and long considered one of the world's most-resilient democracies.

Source: The Edge Markets January 16, 2026 01:49 UTC