Yoon accused of plotting martial law and undermining democratic institutions.

Seoul, November 10: Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been indicted on charges of aiding the enemy and abuse of power, following an explosive investigation into allegations that he attempted to provoke North Korea to justify declaring martial law in December last year.

The indictment, confirmed by state prosecutor Park Ji-young, marks one of the most serious legal actions ever taken against a former South Korean head of state.

Drone Provocations and Martial Law Plot

According to the prosecution, Yoon and senior officials in his administration allegedly orchestrated drone flights over North Korean territory, intending to elicit a hostile response from Pyongyang.

Prosecutor Park said Yoon and others “conspired to create conditions that would allow the declaration of emergency martial law, thereby increasing the risk of inter-Korean armed confrontation and harming public military interests.”

Evidence reportedly includes a memo dated October 2024 from Yoon’s former counter-intelligence commander, recommending targeted drone operations over Pyongyang or Wonsan to provoke a reaction from the North.

Crisis and Attempted Military Takeover

Yoon’s actions triggered a major political crisis in December 2024, when he allegedly ordered armed troops to surround the National Assembly in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from rejecting his martial law declaration.

The move failed as military commanders refused to act without broader authorization.
Yoon was detained in January following a dawn raid, the first time in South Korean history that a sitting president was arrested while in office.

He was impeached and removed in April 2025, paving the way for new elections in June, which brought Lee Jae Myung to power.

Yoon now faces multiple charges, including insurrection and abuse of authority, in separate ongoing trials.

Regional Tensions and North Korean Claims

The indictment comes amid renewed tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Last year, North Korea accused Seoul of dropping propaganda leaflets via drones over Pyongyang; a claim that South Korea’s military did not confirm.

Analysts warn the case underscores the fragile state of inter-Korean relations, as the two nations remain technically at war under the 1953 armistice agreement that ended active hostilities but never established a peace treaty.