Ousted President Yoon prepared for martial law bid over a year in advance, says South Korean special counsel

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) - South Korea's special counsel Monday said that ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol began preparing for his Dec. 3, 2024 martial law decree as early as 14 months beforehand, in October 2023.

Since taking office in 2022, Yoon had considered imposing martial law and prepared for more than a year before making the country's first martial law declaration in some 40 years, Eun-suk Cho's team told a news conference on Monday, concluding a 180-day probe, according to the Korea Herald.

"We have confirmed Yoon, Kim, and (former Counterintelligence Commander) Yeo In-hyung conducted abnormal military operations in October 2024 to induce military actions from the North to acquire justification for the emergency martial law," said Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk, claiming they planned to use a threat from North Korea to justify imposing martial law.

The special counsel team has indicted 27 individuals over the short-lived attempt to impose martial law, including former members of Yoon's Cabinet.

Yoon was previously indicted on charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power, and was later additionally charged with obstruction of justice, aiding an enemy, and perjury after the team was established.

"The investigation confirmed that (Yoon) made the declaration for the purpose of suspending political and National Assembly activities through military force, seizing control of legislative and judicial powers through an emergency legislative body, then eliminate those opposing him to monopolize and maintain power," Cho told reporters.

"It appears that he believed that seizing all power would solve everything ... The main purpose of martial law was the monopolization of power, to do anything he wanted to do. We believe this included resolving court-related risks for himself and his wife," said Park Ji-young, the assistant special counsel.

Separately, South Korean police on Monday named Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja as a suspect in a bribery probe involving politicians from both the ruling and opposition parties, Yonhap News reported, citing officials.

Han, who is in custody and on trial over allegations that she gave luxury gifts to then-first lady Kim Keon Hee, Yoon’s wife, is suspected of bribing multiple politicians and violating the Political Funds Act.

A South Korean court on Monday also sentenced retired Army Maj. Gen. Noh Sang-won to two years in prison for collecting the personal information of military intelligence officers in connection with last year's martial law decree, in the first such sentence among special counsel cases.

South Korea’s National Assembly overturned the martial law within about six hours of its declaration last year, and Yoon was subsequently impeached and suspended on Dec. 14.

He was arrested and indicted for leading an insurrection in January, becoming the first sitting president to be taken into custody. After being released in March, Yoon was re-arrested in July and remains detained.

The former president was formally removed from office by the Constitutional Court in April.