Foreign Exchange and Cabinet Member Accomplice Investigation Enters Second Phase
Expanded Probe into Martial Law Accomplices Han Ducksoo and Lee Sangmin
Tracking Cabinet Involvement in Martial Law and Orders to Cut Media Power Supply
The special prosecutor's team led by Cho Eunseok, which has indicted former President Yoon Seokyeol early on five charges including the neutralization of martial law control, has begun a full-scale investigation into foreign exchange-related charges that were excluded from the indictment. The special prosecutor also plans to determine whether former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin, along with other cabinet members, aided or participated in the martial law.
Former President Yoon Seokyeol, who is under special investigation related to the December 3 emergency martial law, is appearing for a warrant hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 9th, responding to questions from the press. Photo by Yonhap News
On July 19, the special prosecutor referred former President Yoon to trial on five charges, including the infringement of cabinet members' right to review martial law, which had been applied at the arrest warrant stage. However, the special prosecutor's strategy is to pursue additional indictments on the core foreign exchange-related charges after securing testimony and evidence from those involved.
In fact, the special prosecutor recently conducted simultaneous raids on 24 locations, including the Ministry of National Defense, the Drone Operations Command, and the Defense Counterintelligence Command, and is currently questioning Kim Yongdae, Commander of the Drone Operations Command, who is a key figure in the case.
Former President Yoon is accused of attempting to provoke North Korea in order to create a pretext for declaring martial law. Testimony has been obtained that, in October and November of last year, he bypassed the reporting procedures of the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and directly ordered the Drone Operations Command to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles to Pyongyang. The special prosecutor has also secured recordings of active-duty officers stating, "It was a presidential order," and "We were told to do it without the knowledge of the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff."
The special prosecutor is also investigating whether there were attempts to conceal the deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles within the military and whether false flight reports were created. Former President Yoon, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yonghyun, and Commander Kim Yongdae have all been identified as suspects for the general charge of aiding the enemy. This charge applies to acts that provide military benefits to an enemy state or harm the military interests of one's own country.
Kim Yongdae, Commander of the Drone Operations Command, is appearing for questioning on the 17th at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the special investigation office for the internal rebellion case has been set up. Photo by Yonhap News
The foreign exchange-related charges are connected to military secrets, making the investigation particularly complex and likely to take more time. The special prosecutor is also considering the possibility of seeking an arrest warrant to compel former President Yoon's cooperation if he continues to be uncooperative with the investigation.
In addition, the special prosecutor plans to intensify the investigation into the possible complicity of cabinet members, including former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo and former Minister Lee Sangmin. They are suspected of aiding or participating in martial law by attending meetings or secret gatherings immediately before the declaration of emergency martial law. Former Prime Minister Han is accused of signing a false martial law proclamation and then ordering the destruction of the document, while former Minister Lee is suspected of ordering power and water supply cuts to media outlets.
Regarding former Minister Lee Sangmin, there have recently been extensive raids of his residence, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the office of the Commissioner of the National Fire Agency. Testimony has also been obtained from the fire agency leadership that they received instructions to cooperate with the power and water cut orders. Based on the secured CCTV footage and evidence, the special prosecutor plans to summon former Minister Lee as a suspect.
The special prosecutor's team is expected to pursue additional indictments after substantiating former President Yoon's foreign exchange-related charges. Meanwhile, about four months remain in the investigation period.
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