Gwacheon, February 25 – A new special counsel team was officially launched on Wednesday to investigate remaining suspicions surrounding the former South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, his failed attempt to declare martial law, and allegations involving his wife.
Special counsel Kwon Chang-young has been tasked with reopening investigations into charges of insurrection stemming from Yoon's failed attempt to declare martial law, along with corruption allegations linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee and the death of a Marine in 2023.
Last month, the National Assembly passed a new special counsel bill after three special investigations ended without fully addressing 17 major allegations, such as suspected planning made ahead of Yoon's declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024.
"While the three special counsels have produced many results since their launch, the second special counsel has been established to reflect the public's belief that there have been shortcomings," Kwon said in a briefing.
Specifically, the new team is expected to investigate alleged attempts under Yoon's administration to provoke North Korea by staging armed helicopter flights near the inter-Korean border, as well as the former first lady's suspected interference in state affairs.
The team recently received investigation records and indictments filed by the three special counsel teams, Yonhap news agency reported.
Kwon's investigation mandate, which lasts for at least 90 days, can be extended twice to run up to 170 days, including a 20-day preparatory period.
Yoon has been sentenced to life imprisonment after one of the three previous special counsels indicted him on charges of leading an insurrection through his failed attempt to declare martial law.
Earlier on Tuesday, Yoon Suk Yeol had appealed his life sentence over his conviction for leading an insurrection, stemming from his failed attempt to impose martial law.
The appeal was filed by his lawyers five days after a court sentenced Yoon to life in prison for leading an insurrection when he briefly imposed martial law on December 3, 2024.
"We believe we have a responsibility to clearly point out the problems with this decision, not only for court records but also for future historical records," the lawyers had said in a notice to the press.
"We will not remain silent about the overzealous indictment by the special counsel and the contradictory decision of the first instance court based on it, as well as its political background," they added.
