South Korea’s ex-President Yoon indicted over martial law lobbying effort

South Korea’s special counsel indicted jailed former president Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday on fresh charges of power abuse, accusing him of ordering senior officials to campaign internationally on behalf of his ill-fated martial law declaration. According to Yonhap News, the indictment is the first criminal case brought by the special counsel team against Yoon, who was impeached and removed from office last year after just months into his five-year mandate. Investigators allege that hours after he declared emergency military rule on Dec. 3, 2024, Yoon instructed aides at the presidential National Security Office and the foreign ministry to dispatch official messages to key allied nations justifying the decree.

Targeted allies include US, UK, Japan and EU

The countries reportedly approached by Seoul’s envoys included the United States, Britain, Japan, and members of the European Union, according to the special counsel’s findings. The probe claims that then-national security adviser Shin Won-sik executed the order alongside his deputy Kim Tae-hyo, using the National Intelligence Service to facilitate the diplomatic outreach. Shin was also indicted on Wednesday for his alleged role in insurrection and abuse of power, marking a significant escalation in the legal reckoning over the December emergency order.

Multiple legal fronts for embattled ex-president

Wednesday’s indictment adds to at least eight ongoing cases that Yoon currently faces in connection with the martial law episode, alongside separate allegations involving his wife and other misconduct claims. The 65-year-old former prosecutor-turned-politician now confronts an uncertain legal future, with courts yet to set trial dates for the bulk of the charges. His dramatic fall from power—culminating in his ouster last year—has deepened political turbulence in Seoul, as the country navigates both domestic instability and delicate diplomatic relations with its key security partners.