South Korea: Special counsel additionally indicts ex-President Yoon on charges of aiding enemy
Seoul, Nov 10 () – South Korea’s special‑counsel team has formally indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday, accusing him of helping the enemy by sending drones to North Korea last year. The case also alleges that Yoon abused his power by ordering the drone launch to provoke a North Korean response, which he then used as a pretext for declaring martial law in December.
The indictment, spearheaded by special counsel Cho Eun‑suk, adds Yoon to a growing list of officials facing lawsuits. Earlier this year, prosecutors charged him with leading an insurrection by pushing the martial‑law bid. He has been in custody since July and is already standing trial. In the new case, the team opted for a “benefiting the enemy” charge rather than a harsher “inciting foreign aggression” blame, citing evidence that the drones crashed near Pyongyang and may have leaked military secrets.
Other officials are also in the cross‑hairs. Former Defence Minister Kim Yong‑hyun and Yeo In‑hyung, former head of the Defence Counter‑Intelligence Command, were indicted on charges of aiding the enemy and abuse of power. Kim Yong‑dae, commander of the Drone Operations Command, faced accusations of obstructing duties and helping forge false documents. All three were indicted without immediate arrest.
Yoon’s legal troubles deepen as the special‑counsel team continues to pursue a case tied to a 2023 Marine death. In July 2023, Corporal Chae Su‑geun drowned during a search mission when he lacked proper safety gear. Investigators say Yoon directed the presidential office and defence ministry to overturn a military probe that would have held a Marine commander responsible. Yoon also allegedly helped former Defence Minister Lee Jong‑sup escape accountability by appointing him ambassador to Australia in March 2024.
The special‑counsel team demanded Yoon appear for questioning on Oct. 23, Nov. 3 and Nov. 8, but Yoon has repeatedly declined, citing his lawyers’ schedules. On Nov. 8 he missed the court‑ordered interview, continuing the pattern of non‑compliance.
In an earlier court appearance on Nov. 7, Yoon (and his wife, Kim Keon‑hee) appeared together for the first time since their arrests. Yoon was scheduled to defend against the martial‑law charges that stem from his attempts to obstruct investigators in January and from deleting secure phone records.
South Korea’s legal system is under intense scrutiny as Yoon faces multiple indictments involving drones, martial law, and a Marine death. The outcomes could reshape the country’s political landscape and its handling of military affairs.
Source: ianslive
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