Special counsel indicts ex-President Yoon over messages justifying martial law

On August 12, the special counsel team in Seoul indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol for his role in justifying his failed martial law bid to foreign nations, including the United States, Britain, Japan, and the European Union. Special counsel Kwon Chang-young's team charged Yoon with abuse of power in this first indictment against the jailed ex-president.

This brings Yoon's total number of trials to eight, related to his martial law imposition, his wife's alleged corruption, and other offenses. Prior to this, Yoon had seven trials after the Supreme Court sentenced him to seven years in prison for obstructing investigators trying to detain him post-martial law bid. The latest indictment pertains to charges that Yoon directed the National Security Office and the foreign ministry to send justifications for the emergency order to key nations immediately following the declaration of martial law.

The National Intelligence Service's then-national security adviser, Shin Won-sik, and his deputy, Kim Tae-hyo, allegedly executed this order. Shin was also indicted on Wednesday for his involvement in an insurrection and abuse of power.