The jailed president Yoon Suk Yeol, who had been holed up in his presidential compound for weeks after issuing a martial law decree last month, now faces rebellion charges punishable by the death penalty or life in prison.

Investigators say Yoon Suk Yeol abused his power when he tried to impose martial law last month. He would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.

South Korean prosecutors have indicted the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on rebellion in connection with his martial law decree that plunged the country into political turmoil

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol has been charged with insurrection after he attempted to declare martial law in December. His ill-fated attempt to impose military rule plunged the country into an unprecedented political crisis and he becomes the first sitting president in South Korean history to be charged with a crime.

The charges are unprecedented for a South Korean president, and if convicted, Yoon Suk Yeol could face years in prison for his shock martial-law decree, which sought to ban political and parliamentary activity and control the media.