On Monday, a special team of South Korean prosecutors investigating former President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was ousted after failing to declare martial law nearly a year ago, presented additional charges of abuse of power and cooperation with the enemy in North Korea-related operations.
The new accusations are related to an alleged operation by Seoul to fly drones into a neighboring country with which it is effectively at war, based on Yoon’s orders, according to details released by the local Yonhap news agency, which the former president is believed to have tried to provoke North Korea’s retaliation and use it as a pretext to declare martial law.
The sending of drones to North Korean territory took place in October 2024, when the regime itself reported intrusions by South Korean-made drones to disseminate anti-North Korean pamphlets over Pyongyang and released photos of the remains of a downed Seoul military drone.
At the time, South Korea’s military declined to comment on the operation.
The special prosecution team also charged Kim Yong-hyun, former Minister of Defense, and Yeo In-hyun, former commander-in-chief of national defense intelligence, with similar charges.
Yoon faces multiple charges within the framework of an investigation being carried out by a special team led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-sook regarding the short-lived state of emergency that was declared in December 2024.
Mr. Yun remains in custody
The former president, who was formally removed from office in early April, has been facing two parallel processes: a trial for sedition and abuse of power stemming from the unconstitutional declaration of martial law, and an additional investigation into his management before and after the declaration.
Other charges in the investigation include obstructing the execution of special official duties, violating the Presidential Protection Act, abuse of power, falsifying official documents, and destroying records.
Today’s charges will be added to those charges in a third process related to drone operations.
Former President Yoon has been detained since July 10. Former President Yoon had already been detained at the same prison from January to March, and was later released by court order before a new arrest order was issued.
If Yin is found guilty of rioting, he could be sentenced to life in prison or even the death penalty, but the Asian country has had a de facto moratorium since 1997.
mg (efe, ap)
About The Author
