Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok’s team additionally indicted former President Yoon Suk-yeol on charges related to the crime of inciting foreign aggression and ordinary treason on the 10th. It was confirmed on the 18th that the indictment stated Yoon began contemplating the declaration of martial law—referring to his “emergency powers”—only six months after taking office. When the Special Investigation Headquarters indicted Yoon last January on charges of leading an insurrection, they had asserted that initial martial-law discussions began in March of last year. However, the special prosecutor now argues that Yoon had been considering extraordinary martial-law measures as early as late 2022 to break through his political quagmire. Yoon denies all charges, and an intense legal battle over the facts is expected in the upcoming trial.
According to this newspaper’s investigation, the indictment identifies Yoon’s first reference to “emergency powers” as November 2022, six months into his presidency. At the time, the National Assembly was dominated by the opposition, and confrontation between the government and the Democratic Party persisted. In this situation, during a dinner with People Power Party leadership at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong on November 25, Yoon reportedly said: “I have emergency powers. Even if I end up being executed, I will sweep them all away.”
Political crises continued for Yoon afterward. In August 2023, allegations arose that he had exerted improper pressure on the investigation into the Marine Corps death-in-the-line-of-duty case. In October, the People Power Party lost the Gangseo District by-election. And in November, allegations arose that First Lady Kim Keon-hee had accepted a luxury handbag. According to the special prosecutor, Yoon then began seriously considering declaring martial law to overcome the political turmoil, with former Presidential Security Service Chief Kim Yong-hyun actively supporting the idea.
The indictment states that from this period onward, Yoon repeatedly emphasized to individuals he believed necessary for executing martial law that such measures were required. In July last year, while visiting Hawaii en route to the NATO Summit in Washington, D.C., Yoon allegedly told Kim Yong-hyun and then–Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Kang Ho-pil: “Han Dong-hoon is a communist,” while cursing the Democratic Party, adding: “Shouldn’t the military get involved?”
Upon returning to Korea, Kang Ho-pil immediately reported to then–Defense Minister Shin Won-sik: “The president is trying to pull the military into politics, and Kim Yong-hyun is making dangerous remarks and pressuring me to agree. I want to resign.” Shin reportedly called Kim Yong-hyun to protest.
Kim Yong-hyun then summoned Kang to the security chief’s residence in Hannam-dong and told him: “Even Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon and conservatives are supporting us. Why take it so seriously? It’s just about managing the president’s mood.” Shortly afterward, Yoon replaced the defense minister with Kim Yong-hyun.
On the night of October 1 last year—Armed Forces Day—Yoon had dinner at the presidential residence with Kim Yong-hyun, Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun, and Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo. During this dinner, Yoon allegedly said, referring to certain politicians including former PPP leader Han Dong-hoon: “If you bring them before me, I’ll shoot them dead.”
On November 9 last year, Yoon visited the Defense Minister’s official residence, where he discussed martial law with Kim Yong-hyun, Yeo In-hyung, Kwak Jong-geun, and Lee Jin-woo. Meanwhile, the special prosecutor states that former Intelligence Command Chief Noh Sang-won—then a civilian—met Intelligence Commander Moon Sang-ho at a café near Sangnoksu Station in Ansan and said: “If we respond to provocations like the sewage balloon attacks, it could create a situation akin to martial law.”
According to the indictment, Yoon met Kim Yong-hyun again on November 24 at the presidential residence to discuss martial law. Around this time, Kim began drafting a martial-law proclamation, a presidential address, and a decree. On former Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung’s phone, investigators found memos written roughly six weeks before the expected declaration:
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Oct 23: “If the enemy stages a strategic show of force, can we use it as military justification?”
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Oct 27: “Violation of martial-law decrees: priority arrests and search-and-seizure.”
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Nov 6: “Enemy must act first; situation must escalate beyond police control or resemble wartime.”
The indictment concludes: “While Yoon Suk-yeol, together with Kim Yong-hyun and others, discussed and prepared for emergency martial law, he labeled the opposition’s impeachment motion, the National Assembly Budget Committee’s budget cuts, and the introduction of the special prosecutor bill as ‘anti-state acts amounting to the plotting of rebellion.’ He then declared emergency martial law on December 3.”
Posted by Freewhale98
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[Context]
It seems Yoon’s alcohol induced madness was already showing signs in 2022. Sadly, officials didn’t take what the president said while drunk seriously. When, officials realized this was not a drunken joke…it was too late.
Yoon put rogue generals from Chongam clique which is controlled by a shaman named “Burger Oracle” into the position of important military posts related to the countering coup. Special Forces command, Capital Defense Command and Military Intelligence Command are three posts that are important in countering any coup. So, other governments made sure commanders of these forces have different backgrounds so they cannot conspire against the government. But Yoon put generals from same clique in the summer of 2024. That when Rep Kim Min-Seok ( now prime minister ) sounded alarm but largely ignored by mainstream media and labeled him a “conspiracy theorist”.
So, Yoon managed to proceed with his deranged plan. Mainstream media were too naive. At least they all issued apology but they must explain why they ignored warnings. The populace need explanation on their failure to warn.
“There were no signs.”