South Korea’s political landscape continues to be shaken by the aftermath of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration in December 2024, with former acting leader Choi Sang-mok becoming the latest high-ranking official to face criminal indictment. The Seoul Central District Court unsealed charges Thursday against Choi for alleged dereliction of duty during his interim presidency.
The indictment centers on Choi’s failure to fully restore the Constitutional Court’s nine-justice panel during the critical period when the court was deliberating Yoon’s impeachment. While Choi appointed two new justices, he left the ninth position vacant, citing lack of bipartisan consensus. This omission proved significant as the court subsequently delivered a unanimous decision to remove Yoon from office in April, requiring at least six justices’ support for the ruling.
Choi, who previously served as Yoon’s deputy prime minister and finance minister, now faces additional perjury charges related to his testimony during the trial of another former acting leader, Han Duck-soo. Han, who served as Yoon’s prime minister, was indicted in August on more serious charges of facilitating Yoon’s martial law imposition. Prosecutors allege Han attempted to legitimize Yoon’s martial law decree through Cabinet Council procedures, though Han maintains he opposed the plan.
The investigation team led by independent counsel Cho Eun-suk also indicted five other individuals Thursday, including Yoon’s justice minister, bringing the total number of officials implicated in the martial law crisis to dozens of high-level figures. Yoon himself remains incarcerated while facing rebellion charges.
This case represents one of three independent counsel probes targeting Yoon, his associates, and family members approved by current President Lee Jae Myung, who assumed office following June’s special election. In a related development, Oceans Minister Chun Jae-soo offered his resignation Thursday amid bribery allegations connected to the Unification Church scandal that has ensnared Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, and church leader Hak Ja Han. President Lee has called for comprehensive investigations into all allegations involving politicians and religious organizations.