"After reviewing the evidence (...) we decided it was reasonable to prosecute the defendant", says the prosecutor to the Korean media company YTN.
The 64-year-old Yoon was arrested in a large police operation on January 15 after refusing to appear before investigators and instead barricaded himself in the presidential palace.
He is accused of being the "leader" of an attempt to carry out a coup after his failed declaration of a state of emergency.
Yoon has denied the crime and called the state of emergency "legitimate". In a statement, his lawyers say that "a state of emergency cannot be recognized as a rebellion”.
"We are convinced that the truth will prevail in court", they say.
In addition to the criminal investigation, Yoon's future as president will also be addressed by the country's constitutional court. With the indictment, he becomes the first sitting president in South Korea to be arrested and charged with a crime.
On Saturday, prosecutors tried to extend the president's detention until February 6, but this was rejected by the judge, citing insufficient grounds for an extension.
This was the prosecutor's second attempt to extend the detention period. The first attempt was also rejected by the Seoul court.
During the announcement of the state of emergency, Yoon called the national assembly "a den of criminals" and promised to eliminate "shameless North Korea sympathizers and anti-state forces”.
Facts: The Crisis in South Korea
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South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol introduced a state of emergency in the evening of December 3, according to himself to protect the country from "communist forces". This was done with reference to the opposition having completely paralyzed the government's work.
The night of December 4, parliament voted to repeal the war laws and the state of emergency was declared invalid.
Yoon Suk-Yeol was stripped of presidential power on December 14, when parliament voted to bring him to trial.
In addition to the impeachment process in the constitutional court, the anti-corruption unit and the police are conducting a joint criminal investigation against Yoon.
Yoon has been suspended from office for the time being. On January 15, he was arrested at the presidential palace after a first attempt to arrest him on January 3 was stopped by security guards who physically blocked the police.
