A comprehensive 180-day investigation by South Korea’s special counsel has uncovered that ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol orchestrated preparations for martial law implementation for over a year before his controversial decree on December 3, 2024. The findings, announced by special counsel leader Cho Eun-suk on Monday, detail a systematic plan to neutralize political opposition through military force.
According to the investigation, Yoon and his associates initiated martial law preparations as early as October 2023. The scheme involved using military power to paralyze the National Assembly and seize both legislative and judicial authority, fundamentally aiming to eliminate political adversaries and consolidate power indefinitely. The probe further revealed that Yoon authorized unusual military operations intended to provoke an armed response from North Korea (DPRK), which ultimately failed when no military reaction materialized.
Faced with this failure, Yoon’s administration allegedly categorized routine political activities within the National Assembly as “anti-state acts” and “insurrection plots” to justify the emergency martial law declaration. Although announced on December 3 last year, the decree was rescinded mere hours later following overwhelming opposition from the legislature.
The constitutional consequences were severe: in April 2025, South Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld parliament’s impeachment vote, resulting in Yoon’s removal from office. The investigation has led to indictments against 24 individuals, including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. Yoon and several key associates remain in custody pending trial.
Evidence supporting these findings includes seized notes from former Defense Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won, phone memoranda from former counterintelligence chief Yeo In-hyung, and testimonies from multiple witnesses. The investigation also uncovered Yoon’s longstanding hostility toward the Democratic Party, dating back to his tenure as prosecutor general. During a November 2022 meeting with People Power Party leadership, Yoon reportedly vowed to “sweep the DP away” even if it meant being “shot to death,” given emergency powers.
In related developments, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced former commander Noh to two years imprisonment for unlawfully collecting military intelligence officers’ personal information connected to the martial law scheme. Additionally, the Constitutional Court announced it will deliver its impeachment ruling on Thursday regarding National Police Agency chief Cho Ji-ho, accused of blocking lawmakers’ assembly access during the crisis.