Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Ex-president faces multiple court hearings as special probe zeroes in on treason charges
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol arrives at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul for a court review on his arrest, July 9. Joint Press Corps
By Lee Hyo-jin
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol is now facing two separate trials, as special counsel investigations into alleged abuse of power and treason surrounding his martial law declaration intensify.
The Seoul Central District Court has scheduled the first preparatory hearing for Aug. 19 in a case brought by the special counsel team led by Cho Eun-seok, who is investigating Yoon's Dec. 3 martial law declaration.
The hearing comes after the former president was indicted July 19 on multiple charges, including abuse of power, falsification of official documents and obstruction of official duties. He remains in custody.
Yoon is already on trial for insurrection and abuse of power in a case brought by state prosecutors prior to the launch of the special counsel investigation.
That case, handled by another panel at the Seoul Central District Court, accuses Yoon of leading an attempted insurrection during his time in office. He was impeached in April. Legal experts say the former president may request the court to combine the two trials.
Meanwhile, two other special counsel investigations are closing in on Yoon and his wife Kim Keon Hee.
The special counsel team investigating the death of a Marine officer during last year’s monsoon season continues to examine allegations that Yoon interfered with the military's internal probe.
A key focus of the investigation is a July 31, 2023, meeting in which Yoon, after being briefed on findings suggesting senior military officers' negligence, allegedly reacted angrily. That reaction apparently influenced the investigation, allegedly leading to the defense ministry's efforts to downplay the soldier's death.
The probe gained momentum after former aide-de-camp Lee Jong-sup, who had become Defense Minister at the time, recently told investigators that there was direct communication between the presidential office and the minister on the day of the meeting.
This photo shows Acrovista apartment complex in Seocho District, Seoul, home to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee, Friday. Yonhap
The aide also confirmed for the first time that Yoon had personally spoken with Lee — a fact that did not come to light for nearly two years. On Friday, the team questioned former Defense Policy Director Heo Tae-geun and plans to summon Brig. Gen. Park Jin-hee, Lee’s former military aide, as a witness on Monday.
In a separate case, the former first lady has been summoned to appear before investigators on Aug. 6 amid expanding probes into alleged abuse of power. Prosecutors also searched her residence in Seocho District in southern Seoul, Friday, seeking to seize materials believed to be connected to multiple allegations.
The special counsel is investigating allegations that Kim received preferential sponsorships for her art exhibition company, Kobana Contents, along with broader claims of influence-peddling and favoritism in land development projects.
Among the key allegations is that members of the Unification Church attempted to lobby Kim through a shaman known as Geonjin Beopsa — whose real name is Jeon Sung-bae — by offering luxury gifts, including a diamond necklace and a Chanel handbag, between April and August 2022.
The special counsel conducted search operations on Friday as part of the ongoing investigation into a high-profile land development scandal tied to the former first lady. Targets included People Power Party lawmaker Kim Sun-kyo, the former first lady’s mother, Choi Eun-soon, and her brother, Kim Jin-woo.