NewKerala.com

Key Points

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has appointed six assistant special counsels to investigate former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration. The probe includes insurrection charges, with ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun already indicted for obstruction and evidence destruction. A separate investigation into a 2023 Marine's drowning death is also underway. The move aims to prevent Kim's release as his detention period nears expiration.

Key Points: Lee Jae Myung Appoints Prosecutors to Probe Yoon Suk Yeol Martial Law Case

  • Lee Jae Myung appoints six assistant special counsels for Yoon Suk Yeol probe
  • Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun indicted for obstruction of duty
  • Martial law case linked to insurrection charges against Yoon
  • Separate investigation into Marine's 2023 drowning death underway
2 min read

South Korea: Lee appoints assistant special counsels for new probe into ex-President Yoon's martial law

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung appoints assistant special counsels to investigate ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration and related insurrection charges.

"We have requested the court to swiftly consolidate the new charges against Kim with the existing case – Independent Counsel Cho Eun-suk"

Seoul, June 20

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has appointed six assistant special counsels to support a new investigation into insurrection charges related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration, the presidential office said on Friday.

Independent counsel Cho Eun-suk recommended eight assistant counsel nominees for the positions and formally requested their appointments through the Ministry of Personnel and Management.

Under the relevant law, the president is required to appoint assistant special counsels within five days of receiving the request.

On Thursday, Cho's team said they had indicted former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun on charges including obstruction of official duties and abetting the destruction of evidence in relation to the imposition of martial law.

Lee is also expected to appoint four additional assistant special counsels by Saturday to assist in a separate investigation into influence-peddling allegations surrounding the 2023 drowning death of a Marine during a search and rescue operation, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier on June 19, the independent counsel investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived imposition of martial law said he had indicted former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun on charges including obstruction of official duties.

Cho Eun-suk said in a notice to the press that Kim was also indicted on charges of abetting the destruction of evidence in connection with the December 3 imposition of martial law. The charges were filed late Wednesday night, he said.

Kim has been under arrest since December 27 and standing trial on charges of insurrection for recommending martial law to Yoon and drafting the decree.

The additional indictments came two days after Kim appealed a conditional bail decision sought by the prosecution and granted by a court in an apparent bid to win unconditional release when his six-month arrest expires June 26.

In the notice, Cho said, "We have requested the court to swiftly consolidate the new charges against Kim with the existing case, cancel the bail decision and issue a new detention warrant."

The special counsel's move appears intended to prevent Kim from being released next week.

Under criminal procedure law, the pretrial detention period for a first-instance trial cannot exceed six months. As the same charges cannot be used to justify continued detention, Kim must be released unless a new warrant is issued based on additional charges.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
Interesting to see South Korea's political drama unfolding. In India, we've seen similar political battles, but thankfully our democracy is strong enough to handle such situations without martial law. Hope they find the truth without destabilizing the country. 🇮🇳
P
Priya M.
This reminds me of our own Emergency period in 1975. Martial law is never a good solution - it shows failure of democratic institutions. South Korea should learn from India's experience where we bounced back stronger after our dark phase.
A
Amit S.
While I support accountability, this seems like political vendetta. In India, we've seen how investigations can be weaponized against opponents. Hope South Korea maintains judicial independence. Their economy is too important for Asia to get destabilized by politics.
S
Sunita R.
As an Indian who loves K-dramas, it's sad to see real-life political dramas in South Korea! 😅 On serious note, hope they resolve this properly. Their tech companies invest heavily in India - political instability there could affect our job market too.
V
Vikram J.
The timing seems suspicious - just before the detention period expires. In India, we've seen how cases can be prolonged unnecessarily. Due process must be followed, not political convenience. South Korea should uphold rule of law better than this.
N
Neha P.
Whatever happens there, hope it doesn't affect Samsung and Hyundai! Half my family works with Korean companies in India. On serious note, this shows even developed democracies face challenges. Makes me appreciate India's stable democracy more.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50