Investigation Intensifies into Former President Yoon Seok-yeol's Emergency Martial Law Allegations

On July 10, a court issued an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Seok-yeol, propelling the special investigation into his alleged involvement in the emergency martial law declared on December 3. Following the warrant, the special prosecutor's office plans to summon Yoon for questioning at 2 PM on July 11, marking the first interrogation since his arrest.

The arrest warrant accuses Yoon of violating the rights of certain cabinet members by not inviting them to a cabinet meeting that declared the emergency martial law, thus infringing on their rights to review and vote. It also includes allegations that he fabricated and later discarded the declaration document. Additionally, Yoon is accused of instructing the Presidential Security Service to obstruct the execution of an arrest warrant during an attempted apprehension by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission in January.

The special prosecutor's office intends to focus on the allegations outlined in the arrest warrant during the maximum 20-day detention period while also expanding the investigation into other related issues.

One key area of focus is the drone infiltration incident involving North Korea, where Yoon is suspected of orchestrating a drone operation to provoke a response from the North in October of the previous year, thereby justifying the martial law. The investigation is set to intensify with inquiries directed at military entities such as the Drone Operations Command and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The special prosecutor's office is currently interviewing multiple military officials to identify those involved alongside Yoon in these foreign exchange allegations.

In relation to the suspicion of the post-declaration document's fabrication and disposal, the investigation will also extend to accomplices, including former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The arrest warrant for Yoon has already implicated Han, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, and former Presidential Office Secretary Kang Ui-kyu as co-conspirators in the document's creation. The special prosecutor's office is also considering the legal status of other cabinet members who attended a meeting the day after the martial law declaration.

Furthermore, the investigation into Yoon's insurrection charges will expand to include cabinet members and military commanders. The special prosecutor's office believes that some cabinet members, including Han, who arrived at the Presidential Office on the day of the martial law, facilitated the process by gathering additional cabinet members without attempting to dissuade Yoon.

Additionally, the investigation will look into allegations that former People Power Party floor leader Chu Kyung-ho obstructed the National Assembly's decision to lift the emergency martial law. Chu reportedly spoke with Yoon for about a minute on the day of the martial law declaration, and there are claims that his repeated changes to the location of a party meeting prevented many party members from participating in the vote. The special prosecutor's office plans to summon Chu and other leaders from the People Power Party for questioning.