Seoul: South Korean prosecutors have accused former president Yoon Suk Yeol of attempting to provoke North Korea into armed action as part of an alleged plan to justify the imposition of martial law, according to findings released by a special prosecution team.
In an indictment made public on Monday, prosecutors said Yoon and several senior officials from his former administration deliberately pursued actions that could have triggered a military response from Pyongyang. They alleged that the aim was to create a national security crisis that could be used as grounds to suspend normal democratic processes.
The prosecution said the alleged actions took place in the months leading up to the controversial martial law declaration in late 2024, a move that shocked the country and later led to Yoon’s impeachment by parliament. The declaration triggered widespread public anger and protests, plunging South Korea into a serious political and constitutional crisis.
Investigators said more than 20 people, including former cabinet ministers and senior security officials, have been charged in connection with the case. The accusations range from abuse of power to involvement in efforts that prosecutors say undermined the constitutional order.
Yoon has denied all allegations through his legal team, insisting that decisions taken during his presidency were aimed solely at protecting national security and deterring threats from the North. His lawyers have described the case as politically driven and rejected claims that there was any intention to provoke a real military confrontation.
North Korea has not issued any official response to the latest indictment. Political analysts say the case is being closely watched both at home and abroad because of its potential impact on regional security and civil military relations.
Legal experts say the trial is expected to last several months and could become a landmark case defining the limits of presidential power in matters of national security. For many South Koreans, the proceedings have reopened deep concerns about democratic safeguards, accountability and the misuse of emergency powers.