The High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Office (Corruption Investigation Office) began an investigation into President Yoon Seok-yeol, who was successfully arrested on the 15th, to find out the full story of the December 3 martial law incident. The truth that the Corruption Investigation Office must uncover against President Yoon includes the timing and timing of the conception of martial law and the specific implementation details. The core of the investigation is what specifically President Yoon planned and executed as the leader of the rebellion.
The length of time that the Corruption Investigation Office can investigate President Yoon while under arrest is up to 48 hours. Within this time, a decision must be made whether to request a prior arrest warrant. The Corruption Investigation Office prepared a questionnaire of over 200 pages to investigate President Yoon.
The highest priority the Corruption Investigation Office is investigating is President Yoon’s role in the implementation of martial law. President Yoon claims that martial law is a ‘warning.’ However, many military and police officials who participated in martial law stated to the National Assembly and investigative agencies that President Yoon directly ordered the arrest of major politicians. Based on these statements, the Corruption Investigation Office believes that President Yoon caused a ‘riot’ with the ‘purpose of disrupting the national constitution’, which is a requirement for treason.
Specifically, former Special Forces Commander Kwak Jong-geun stated that during martial law, President Yoon ordered, “It appears that there is no quorum in the National Assembly, so quickly go inside the National Assembly and bring out the people inside.” It was also revealed that after the National Assembly passed the request to lift martial law, Lee Jin-woo, former commander of the Capital Defense Command, instructed, “Even if it is lifted, I can just declare martial law a second or third time, so proceed.”
The investigation confirmed that former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun ordered former counterintelligence commander Yeo Yeo-hyung to arrest and detain about 10 key figures, including Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, and that an arrest team was actually operated. The Corruption Investigation Office believes that President Yoon’s instructions were given before former Minister Kim’s instructions.
It is also subject to investigation whether President Yoon gave specific instructions, such as detaining a National Election Commission employee, to former intelligence commander Noh Sang-won, who was assigned a role related to the election fraud conspiracy theory that President Yoon was obsessed with.
Prosecutors confirmed that President Yoon had been making remarks suggesting martial law since March of last year, and that specific preparations had begun in November. President Yoon’s side denies this. One of the important investigation points is when President Yoon decided to declare martial law and began preparations.
It is also subject to investigation whether martial law was issued in unconstitutional or illegal circumstances. The Corruption Investigation Office believes that President Yoon pushed ahead with the declaration of martial law despite knowing that it did not meet the requirements for declaring martial law set by the Constitution and laws, such as ‘war, incident, or equivalent national emergency’.
The Corruption Investigation Office believes that President Yoon’s declaration of martial law violated procedures established by law. Article 82 of the Constitution stipulates that ‘the President’s actions under national law shall be done in writing, and this document shall be countersigned by the Prime Minister and the relevant State Council members.’ However, on the day of martial law, President Yoon did not declare martial law and notify the National Assembly in writing. There were no departments of State Council members.
The ‘suspicion of inducing North Wind’ raised by the opposition party must also be investigated. The Democratic Party and others suspect that President Yoon planned to strike North Korea’s filthy balloon float and infiltrate North Korea with drones in order to create the conditions for declaring martial law.
2025-01-15 13:41:00