ROK's independent counsel indicts ex-President Yoon for justifying martial law

The independent counsel of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday indicted former President Yoon Suk-yeol for justifying his martial law declaration, according to local media.

The team of a second special counsel Kwon Chang-young, who led investigations into leftover martial law allegations and other corruptions, indicted Yoon on charges stemming from his directive to spread messages to allied countries justifying his short-lived martial law declaration.

The emergency martial law was declared by Yoon on the night of December 3, 2024, but was revoked hours later by the National Assembly.

Yoon was accused of ordering the dissemination of distorted messages to major allies, including the United States, between December 3 and 4, 2024, to validate the legitimacy of the failed martial law.

The special counsel team concluded that Yoon abused his power by forcing the presidential national security office and the foreign ministry to perform duties outside their legal obligations.

Shin Won-sik, former presidential national security advisor, was indicted without detention on charges of conspiring with Yoon to distribute the justification messages.

Yoon was sentenced to life in prison in February this year for the insurrection coming from his martial law declaration and 30 years in prison in June for the general treason relevant to the infiltration of drones into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

He was indicted under detention in January 2025 as a suspected ringleader of the insurrection, becoming the ROK's first sitting president to be arrested and indicted.