Investigation into Drone Incursion and Related Charges Against Former President Yoon Suk-yeol

On July 10, a court issued an arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, which has propelled the special investigation into the alleged insurrection led by prosecutor Cho Eun-seok. The special investigation team is set to summon Yoon for questioning on July 11, marking his first interrogation since his arrest.

The arrest warrant accuses Yoon of infringing on the deliberative and voting rights of certain cabinet members by not inviting them to a National Security Council meeting that declared a state of emergency on December 3. It also alleges that he fabricated and later discarded the emergency declaration document. Additionally, he is accused of instructing the Presidential Security Service to obstruct the execution of an arrest warrant during an attempted arrest by the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission in January.

During the maximum 20-day detention period, the special investigation team plans to focus on the charges outlined in the arrest warrant while also expanding their inquiry into other allegations.

The investigation will intensify regarding Yoon's foreign exchange-related charges linked to the drone incursion incident in Pyongyang. The special investigation team suspects that Yoon sent drones to North Korea in October of last year to provoke a response, thereby justifying the declaration of a state of emergency. They have recently summoned multiple military officials for questioning and are verifying the involvement of presidential office and military personnel 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 special investigation team has already identified Han, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, and former Presidential Office Secretary Kang Ui-kyu as co-conspirators in the creation of the emergency declaration document.

Furthermore, the investigation into Yoon's insurrection charges will also encompass cabinet members and military commanders. The special investigation team believes that some cabinet members, including Han, who arrived at the presidential office on the day of the emergency declaration, 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 state of emergency. On the day of the emergency declaration, Chu reportedly spoke with Yoon for about a minute. Following this, he changed the location of a party meeting multiple times, preventing many People Power Party members from participating in the parliamentary vote. The special investigation team plans to summon Chu and other members of the party leadership from that time for questioning.