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Korea Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Prosecution, CIO ramp up investigation into Yoon ahead of special counsel probe
The prosecution and the state anti-corruption agency are intensifying their investigations into former President Yoon Suk Yeol ahead of the launch of an independent special counsel probe. The ongoing inquiries center on allegations of insurrection, treason and obstruction of a military investigation. According to the prosecution's investigation team, led by Seoul High Prosecutors' Office chief prosecutor Park Se-hyun, the prosecutors have obtained key evidence, including phone server-related data from Yoon's secure phone lines and CCTV records from the Presidential Security Service on Monday. Since January, the investigation team has attempted to secure such records more than once through search warrants, but the PSS denied previous requests, citing the Criminal Procedure Act. The act bans any seizure and search attempts in a place where secret military matters are held, including the presidential residence, without the permission of the authority in charge. The PSS decided to cooperate with the prosecution, which on May 29 initiated another attempt to secure more evidence to substantiate charges against the former president. And the additional digital data stored on the server is reportedly taking time to access, as the PSS is making a voluntary submission while coordinating with the prosecution. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, which is investigating Yoon's alleged interference in a military investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, also requested additional phone records from the presidential office on Monday. Chae is a marine conscript who drowned during a rescue mission in 2023. The Democratic Party of Korea claimed that Yoon tried to hinder an investigation into Lim Seong-geun, the then-commander of the deceased marine's division, and his possible negligence or other wrongdoings in Chae's death. The anti-corruption investigative agency previously secured data related to a specific phone number, which is suspected to be associated with Yoon's private office or workroom. The number was allegedly used to call then-Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and the marine's case, scheduled for transfer to the police at the time, was suspended shortly thereafter. The CIO suspects Yoon instructed the former minister to delay the transfer of the case via phone. The CIO is reportedly receiving evidence necessary to identify the origin of the phone number. "The agency will transfer the necessary records once the special counsel probe is launched. But, until special prosecutors are appointed, we are committed to investigating the case thoroughly," the CIO official said in a press briefing on Tuesday. Though the National Assembly approved the special counsel probe bills on June 5, both the prosecutors and the state anti-corruption agency pushed ahead with their investigation to ensure there is no investigative gap in the probe. The prosecution, the CIO and the police are required to comply with the special prosecutors' request for investigative records, evidence or the transfer of cases currently under trial. The extent to which the special prosecutors will take over the martial law-related cases is expected to be decided after the special counsel probe is formally activated. Meanwhile, the police are likely to consider an arrest warrant request for Yoon as the former president continued to defy the summons. The police's special investigation unit announced Monday that a second summons was sent to Yoon. 'We requested that he appear for questioning on June 5, but Yoon's legal team rejected the summons. We asked him to comply with the second summons on Thursday,' the police officer said in a press conference held on Monday. Police typically request an arrest warrant if a suspect fails to respond to the third summons The police reportedly claimed that there is nothing more to share in regards to the possible arrest warrant since only the second summons has been issued. But it vowed to take the utmost efforts to conduct all possible investigations. While denying the former president's alleged criminal offenses, Yoon Kab-keun, one of Yoon's legal representatives, insisted Monday that the investigation can be carried out in a written questionnaire, suggesting Yoon is unlikely to comply with the summons.
Korea Herald
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Stripped of immunity, Yoon Suk Yeol now faces 7 criminal offenses
All of South Korea's law enforcement agencies are now investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol, with seven criminal cases underway following the loss of his presidential immunity after his April 4 ouster. While controversies surrounding Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon Hee, drew attention during his presidency, investigations had stalled due to Article 84 of the Constitution, which shields sitting presidents from prosecution except for insurrection or treason. Yoon also vetoed multiple bills calling for a special counsel probe into his wife's alleged misconduct. But the investigations have regained momentum. On Thursday, prosecutors indicted Yoon for abuse of power, related to his alleged declaration of martial law. A special team led by Park Se-hyun at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office said Yoon will face trial for violating Article 123 of the Criminal Act. The prosecution has acted the Seoul Central District Court to merge the case with his insurrection charge case, ongoing since Feb. 26. A day earlier, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office raided the former first couple's private residence and Covana Contents, Kim's exhibition planning company. The raid targeted suspected ties between the couple and shaman Jeon Seong-bae, also known as Geon Jin, including alleged violations of the country's antigraft law. Investigators are examining claims that Jeon received luxury gifts — reportedly intended for Kim, including a diamond necklace and handbag — after Yoon's 2022 election victory from a high-ranking official of the Unification Church, a religious movement derived from Christianity. Jeon is also accused of receiving 100 million won ($70,478) from a People Power Party candidate and is believed to have played an unofficial advisory role in Yoon's campaign. The prosecution is additionally revisiting two separate election law violation cases, in which Yoon allegedly made false statements about his mother-in-law's fraud case and his wife's involvement in a stock manipulation scandal, during his campaign in 2022. These cases had previously been paused due to Yoon's then presidential immunity. In parallel, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials has resumed its probe into Yoon's alleged interference in a military investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, a marine conscript who drowned during a rescue mission in 2023. Investigators recently conducted forensic analysis of the phone used by Lim Seong-geun, the then commander of the deceased marine's division. Separately, police are also pursuing obstruction of justice charges over Yoon's attempts to block the execution of an arrest warrant at the presidential residence in January this year.
NDTV
01-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
South Korea's Ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol Indicted For 'Abuse Of Power'
Seoul: Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted Thursday for abuse of power over his martial law declaration, prosecutors said, adding to the impeached ex-leader's legal jeopardy. The new indictment without detention comes as Yoon stands trial for orchestrating an insurrection with his December 3 martial law attempt, which sought to suspend civilian rule in democratic South Korea. Armed soldiers were deployed to parliament under the decree, but the order lasted only around six hours as it was swiftly voted down by opposition MPs, who scaled fences to enter the building. They later impeached Yoon over the martial law declaration. Yoon, 64, was stripped of all power and privileges in April by the Constitutional Court, which upheld the impeachment motion. He was soon forced to move out of the presidential residence. Prosecutors first indicted Yoon in January -- when he was still president -- as "the ringleader of an insurrection", a charge not covered by presidential immunity. "We have since proceeded with the (insurrection) trial while conducting supplementary investigations into the abuse of power allegation, leading to this additional indictment," prosecutors said in a statement on Thursday. Yoon was arrested in mid-January after a days-long standoff with authorities over the insurrection charge, but was released in March on procedural grounds. The fresh charge comes a day after investigators raided Yoon's private residence in Seoul as part of a probe into bribery allegations involving his wife Kim Keon Hee and a shaman accused of receiving lavish gifts on behalf of the former first lady. Legal woes Legal troubles are mounting for Yoon and his wife Kim in cases unrelated to his martial law attempt. Prosecutors are investigating allegations that a shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, received a diamond necklace, a luxury handbag, and ginseng -- a popular health tonic that can cost thousands -- from a senior official of the Unification Church and passed them on to Kim. The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office has also reopened an investigation into Kim's alleged involvement in stock manipulation in a case previously dropped against her when Yoon was in power. The former president is additionally facing allegations that he unlawfully meddled in his party's nomination process for parliamentary candidates as president-elect in 2022. Yoon has denied any wrongdoing in the cases. If convicted of the insurrection charge, Yoon could be sentenced to life in prison or to death -- although South Korea has had an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997. Yoon was the second South Korean president to be removed from office, and the third to be impeached by parliament. With him out of office, South Korea is set to hold a snap election on June 3.
Malay Mail
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
South Korean ex-president Yoon charged with abuse of power, say prosecutors
SEOUL, May 1 — Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted Thursday for abuse of power over his martial law declaration, prosecutors said, adding to the impeached ex-leader's legal jeopardy. The new indictment without detention comes as Yoon stands trial for orchestrating an insurrection with his December 3 martial law attempt, which sought to suspend civilian rule in democratic South Korea. Armed soldiers were deployed to parliament under the decree, but the order lasted only around six hours as it was swiftly voted down by opposition MPs, who scaled fences to enter the building. They later impeached Yoon over the martial law declaration. Yoon, 64, was stripped of all power and privileges in April by the Constitutional Court, which upheld the impeachment motion. He was soon forced to move out of the presidential residence. Prosecutors first indicted Yoon in January — when he was still president — as 'the ringleader of an insurrection', a charge not covered by presidential immunity. 'We have since proceeded with the (insurrection) trial while conducting supplementary investigations into the abuse of power allegation, leading to this additional indictment,' prosecutors said in a statement on Thursday. Yoon was arrested in mid-January after a days-long standoff with authorities over the insurrection charge, but was released in March on procedural grounds. The fresh charge comes a day after investigators raided Yoon's private residence in Seoul as part of a probe into bribery allegations involving his wife Kim Keon Hee and a shaman accused of receiving lavish gifts on behalf of the former first lady. Legal woes Legal troubles are mounting for Yoon and his wife Kim in cases unrelated to his martial law attempt. Prosecutors are investigating allegations that a shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, received a diamond necklace, a luxury handbag, and ginseng — a popular health tonic that can cost thousands — from a senior official of the Unification Church and passed them on to Kim. The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office has also reopened an investigation into Kim's alleged involvement in stock manipulation in a case previously dropped against her when Yoon was in power. The former president is additionally facing allegations that he unlawfully meddled in his party's nomination process for parliamentary candidates as president-elect in 2022. Yoon has denied any wrongdoing in the cases. If convicted of the insurrection charge, Yoon could be sentenced to life in prison or to death — although South Korea has had an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997. Yoon was the second South Korean president to be removed from office, and the third to be impeached by parliament. With him out of office, South Korea is set to hold a snap election on June 3. — AFP
France 24
01-05-2025
- Politics
- France 24
South Korea's ex-leader Yoon Suk Yeol indicted on new charge of abuse of power
Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted Thursday for abuse of power over his martial law declaration, prosecutors said, adding to the impeached ex-leader's legal jeopardy. The new indictment without detention comes as Yoon stands trial for orchestrating an insurrection with his December 3 martial law attempt, which sought to suspend civilian rule in democratic South Korea. Armed soldiers were deployed to parliament under the decree, but the order lasted only around six hours as it was swiftly voted down by opposition MPs, who scaled fences to enter the building. They later impeached Yoon over the martial law declaration. Yoon, 64, was stripped of all power and privileges in April by the Constitutional Court, which upheld the impeachment motion. He was soon forced to move out of the presidential residence. Prosecutors first indicted Yoon in January – when he was still president – as "the ringleader of an insurrection", a charge not covered by presidential immunity. "We have since proceeded with the (insurrection) trial while conducting supplementary investigations into the abuse of power allegation, leading to this additional indictment," prosecutors said in a statement on Thursday. Yoon was arrested in mid-January after a days-long standoff with authorities over the insurrection charge, but was released in March on procedural grounds. The fresh charge comes a day after investigators raided Yoon's private residence in Seoul as part of a probe into bribery allegations involving his wife Kim Keon Hee and a shaman accused of receiving lavish gifts on behalf of the former first lady. Legal woes Legal troubles are mounting for Yoon and his wife Kim in cases unrelated to his martial law attempt. Prosecutors are investigating allegations that a shaman, Jeon Seong-bae, received a diamond necklace, a luxury handbag, and ginseng – a popular health tonic that can cost thousands – from a senior official of the Unification Church and passed them on to Kim. The Seoul High Prosecutors' Office has also reopened an investigation into Kim's alleged involvement in stock manipulation in a case previously dropped against her when Yoon was in power. The former president is additionally facing allegations that he unlawfully meddled in his party's nomination process for parliamentary candidates as president-elect in 2022. Yoon has denied any wrongdoing in the cases. If convicted of the insurrection charge, Yoon could be sentenced to life in prison or to death – although South Korea has had an unofficial moratorium on executions since 1997. Yoon was the second South Korean president to be removed from office, and the third to be impeached by parliament. With him out of office, South Korea is set to hold a snap election on June 3.
