Former South Korean President Yoon questioned over martial law allegations

The special prosecutor's team investigating remaining cases from the "three special prosecutors" era concluded its first questioning of former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on June 6. The investigation, which lasted 6 hours and 25 minutes, focused on allegations of abuse of power related to the transmission of messages justifying martial law.

Yoon was summoned as a suspect to the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, to answer questions about accusations that he ordered the National Security Office and National Intelligence Service to relay messages to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and other entities, asserting the legitimacy of martial law shortly after its declaration. This marks Yoon's first interrogation by the special prosecutor's team since its launch 101 days prior.

The questioning concluded around 4:25 p.m. on June 6, including the review of his statement transcript. The special prosecutor's team has scheduled a follow-up investigation for Yoon on June 13. This next session will address charges of rebellion leadership under the Military Criminal Act.

The Military Criminal Act defines rebellion as "making an armed insurrection by conspiracy." The penalty for the leader of such a rebellion is death, with those participating in or commanding the rebellion facing death, life imprisonment, or a prison sentence of seven years or more.