South Korean prosecutors have indicted former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo for negligence in this scandal. He is currently being charged for advocating the declaration of martial law during Yoon Suk-yeol’s term as president. The indictment, revealed on Friday, comes as a result of actions taken by Han during the height of what was essentially an unstable government. He acted as president on two different occasions, each time from December until May. Federal prosecutors say he aided and abetted Yoon’s objectionable decision — one that has sparked widespread political turmoil.
At 76, Han Duck-soo stands accused of being the highest official who could have intervened to prevent Yoon’s attempt to enforce martial law. According to recent news agency reports from Yonhap, he himself has been subject to an investigation led by a special prosecutor’s team. This investigation opened about three weeks prior to the indictment Coming Soon. Han insists that he made it abundantly clear that he opposed Yoon’s martial law plan. His resignation from his current post was due to his decision to enter South Korea’s presidential race.
Indicted is former first lady and wife of Yoon Suk-yeol, Kim Keon-hee. This is a big win for wildlife in this long-running and hard-fought legal battle. As we reported, Kim is charged with bribery and participating in a stock manipulation scheme. This is in addition to allegations that she accepted gifts from the Unification Church, which only deepens her legal peril.
Both former PM Han Duck-soo and current PM Kim Keon-hee are in jail after their arrests. Yoon Suk-yeol is now on trial for high treason, including insurrection for trying to install military rule. This trial is unfolding at the same time of their own indictments. Though Yoon was formally impeached in April, the politics have changed significantly. The recent indictments have only multiplied the confusion in this quickly developing story.
1 Kim Keon-hee has gotten herself repeatedly embroiled in a series of gaffes and scandals over the past year, some allegedly originating from over 15 years ago. Her legal team has consistently and strongly denied all allegations against her. They contest the allegations surrounding these gifts she allegedly accepted, arguing these claims are speculative and without merit.
The indictment of these high-profile figures almost certainly signals the emergence of new political fault lines in South Korea’s ongoing political saga. As investigations progress and trials begin, it is unclear what these striking revelations will mean for South Korea’s governance and political integrity as a whole.
