Martial law probe grounds top Yoon-era officials

Police have barred three former high-ranking officials from leaving the country as an investigation intensifies into the alleged abuse of emergency powers during former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s final days in office.

The special investigation unit under the National Office of Investigation said on May 27 that it had placed former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok under a travel ban earlier this month. Both are being investigated on suspicion of aiding or acquiescing to Yoon’s controversial declaration of martial law in December, a move that drew broad condemnation and is now under scrutiny as a potential act of insurrection.

Also barred from leaving the country is former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, whose travel ban was first imposed in December 2024 and has recently been extended.

Then-Prime Minister and acting President Han Duck-soo attends a meeting of the Economic Security Strategy Task Force at the Seoul official residence on April 14, 2025. At left is then-Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok./Yonhap

Investigators have reportedly obtained surveillance footage from a high-level meeting room inside the presidential office. The footage, submitted voluntarily by the Presidential Security Service, is believed to capture key moments leading up to the martial law declaration.

Han testified at a parliamentary hearing in February that he had no prior knowledge of plans to invoke emergency rule. Choi, who is accused of receiving a folded note from Yoon proposing the creation of a so-called “emergency legislative body,” claimed he was too overwhelmed by the “surreal situation” to read it. Lee previously acknowledged seeing notes inside the presidential office referring to power and water supply cuts to media outlets, but denied having detailed knowledge.

Police, however, believe the officials’ statements are contradicted by the video footage. On May 26, all three were summoned for questioning over possible false testimony.

If investigators conclude the officials were complicit in advancing or concealing Yoon’s martial law plan, authorities are reportedly considering placing them in pretrial detention.

[Kim Myeong-jin]

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