In a landmark development for South Korea’s political landscape, the special counsel investigation into former President Yoon Suk-yeol has reached its conclusion. Led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, the probe has resulted in criminal charges against 24 high-ranking officials from the previous administration.
At a nationally televised press conference in Seoul, Prosecutor Cho revealed that the investigation substantiated allegations that Yoon, who assumed office in May 2022, had orchestrated preparations for martial law declaration before October 2023. The primary objective, according to the special counsel, was to consolidate and perpetuate presidential power through extraordinary measures.
The investigation further uncovered that Yoon’s administration allegedly attempted to provoke a military response from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) through unconventional military operations. This calculated provocation, the counsel asserted, was intended to create a pretext for implementing martial law. However, the strategy ultimately failed as DPRK forces did not engage militarily.
This conclusive investigation follows Yoon’s dramatic impeachment by the Constitutional Court on April 4, 2025, which centered on his unsuccessful martial law initiative from December of the previous year. The impeachment proceedings formally removed Yoon from office, making him the latest South Korean leader to face serious legal consequences after leaving power.
The former president, currently detained, was formally charged on January 26 as the alleged mastermind behind the insurrection plot. The comprehensive indictment includes former Prime Minister, former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, multiple ministers, and presidential secretaries, marking one of the most significant political corruption cases in recent South Korean history.