Arrests continue in South Korea over failed martial law attempt

Investigations and arrests continue in South Korea following the short-lived imposition of martial law by disgraced former President Yoon Suk-yeol in December 2024. Local media report that a former prime minister and the country’s one-time spy chief have been arrested in connection with the failed bid.

In separate arrests, former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn was detained on Wednesday on charges of inciting an insurrection. Concurrently, Cho Tae-yong, the former head of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), was taken into custody for several violations of NIS law, including dereliction of duty, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.

Following the martial law declaration, Hwang allegedly posted on Facebook, calling for the arrest of the country’s National Assembly speaker and the "eradication" of those involved in alleged electoral fraud, Yonhap reported.

Former intelligence chief Cho, once a close confidant of former President Yoon, is accused of knowing about the martial law plans and failing to report them to the country’s National Assembly. Yonhap noted that "The NIS Act obliges its director to report to the National Assembly, as well as to the president, if a situation that has a significant impact on national security arises."

Prosecutors asserted that Cho, a career diplomat, failed to report the martial law plans despite "understanding its illegality." At a hearing on Tuesday, Cho denied all charges against him, Yonhap said.

New Indictment for Former President Yoon

The arrests of Hwang and Cho come after prosecutors filed another indictment on Monday against the former 64-year-old President Yoon. Yoon was removed from office in April and is currently detained while awaiting trial for his attempt to impose martial law.

The latest indictment accuses the former president of attempting to provoke a military conflict between South Korea and North Korea. Prosecutors allege Yoon covertly sent drones into North Korea in October 2024 in an effort to legitimize the state of martial law he had planned. Prosecutors further argue that the drone deployment over North Korea led to the leak of military secrets when one of the unmanned aerial vehicles crashed near North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, Yonhap added.

State Prosecutor Park Ji-young told reporters that the special counsel team had “filed charges of benefitting the enemy in general and of abuse of power” against the former president.

Yoon’s failed power grab plunged South Korea into a political crisis after armed soldiers were sent to the parliament building in an effort to block lawmakers who were rallying to outlaw his martial law bid. Yoon’s attempt failed, and he was detained in January, becoming South Korea’s first sitting president to be taken into custody.

Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, is also currently in custody and standing trial on corruption charges, including stock manipulation. This marks the first time a former first couple has been simultaneously detained.