[Exclusive] Prosecutors Specify Abuse of Power by Yoon in Second Indictment, Naming Six Agencies Including Police, Capital Defense Command, and Special Warfare Command

Consolidated Trial Scheduled for Rebellion and Abuse of Power on the 12th

Former President Yoon Sukyeol is attending the second criminal trial hearing on charges of leading a rebellion at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on April 21, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

On the 1st, prosecutors filed an additional indictment against former President Yoon Sukyeol on charges of abuse of power, specifying his alleged offenses in the indictment by dividing them among a total of six agencies (the police, Capital Defense Command, Army Special Warfare Command, Defense Counterintelligence Command, Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters, and Defense Intelligence Command).

According to the 120-page indictment obtained by Asia Economy on the 9th from the 12·3 Martial Law Special Investigation Headquarters (headed by Park Sehyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office), the section detailing former President Yoon's abuse of power runs from pages 111 to 120, spanning 10 pages. Prosecutors first categorized the '① Police' section into three main allegations: the blockade of the National Assembly, the operation of arrest teams, and the restriction of access to the National Election Commission.

Prosecutors stated, "The defendant (former President Yoon) and others abused their authority to command and supervise the heads of the armed forces and central administrative agencies, as well as their authority to direct subordinate units, agencies, and public officials, causing a total of 1,963 members of 29 police riot squads and approximately 85 members of the National Assembly security unit to perform duties they were not obligated to perform." Prosecutors asserted that these actions completely prohibited members of the National Assembly from entering the National Assembly building, thereby obstructing the exercise of their rights, including deliberation and voting on the motion to lift martial law. The indictment also stated that these acts "violated constitutional principles of representative democracy, the separation of powers, and the political neutrality of public officials."

Regarding the operation of arrest teams, prosecutors said that 104 support personnel from the Defense Counterintelligence Command were organized for this purpose. For the restriction of access to the National Election Commission, 92 members of the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency riot squad were mobilized, "causing police officers in each case to perform duties they were not obligated to perform."

Prosecutors specified former President Yoon's alleged abuse of power in a similar manner for the following agencies: ② Capital Defense Command, ③ Army Special Warfare Command, ④ Defense Counterintelligence Command, ⑤ Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters, and ⑥ Defense Intelligence Command.

Prosecutors requested that the Criminal Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court (presided over by Judge Ji Guyon), which is handling former President Yoon's trial, also consolidate and review this case. As the court accepted the request, this case will also be heard by Criminal Division 25. At the trial scheduled for the 12th, where former President Yoon faces charges of rebellion, the abuse of power case will also be addressed.