S. Korea's special counsel finalizes investigation into ex-president Yoon's insurrection charges

SEOUL -- South Korea's special counsel team on Monday finalized its investigation into former impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol's insurrection charges.

Cho Eun-suk, special prosecutor who led the investigation into Yoon's insurrection and other charges, told a televised press conference that his team indicted a total of 24 people, including Yoon, former prime minister, former deputy prime minister for economic affairs, other ministers and presidential secretaries.

Cho said his team confirmed the fact through investigations that Yoon, who took office in May 2022, prepared the martial law declaration before October 2023 to monopolize and maintain his power.

To create a pretext for the martial law imposition, Yoon attempted to induce a military response from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) through abnormal military operations, but the attempt was unsuccessful as the DPRK did not respond militarily, Cho noted.

The constitutional court upheld a motion to impeach Yoon on April 4, 2025, over his botched martial law bid last December, officially removing him from office.

The ousted leader was indicted under detention on Jan. 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection.