Former President Yoon Indicted for Allegedly Ordering Diplomatic Lobbying to Justify Martial Law

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted without detention by the second independent counsel on suspicions that he ordered messages to be conveyed to the U.S. and other allies to justify the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration. Yoon is suspected of instructing the National Security Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to inform the U.S., the U.K., Japan, and the European Union that the martial law was justified on Dec. 3 last year, immediately after the declaration.

Former National Security Office Director Shin Won-sik was indicted without detention on charges, including participating in a rebellion, for allegedly leading the promotion of martial law. Shin is accused of receiving Yoon's instructions and, along with former Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo, requesting the National Intelligence Service to explain the situation to allies on Dec. 4 last year. Former Deputy Director Kim, who faces similar allegations, was already indicted in custody on the 29th of last month, and the special counsel team plans to apply to the court to merge this case with Kim’s trial.

With this indictment, Former President Yoon now faces a total of eight ongoing criminal trials. Consequently, Yoon now faces the simultaneous burden of martial law-related criminal proceedings, an impeachment trial, and the special counsel investigation.