Ex-prosecutor general questioned over alleged martial law role

Former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, center, arrives at special counsel Kwon Chang-young's office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, Wednesday, for questioning over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid in 2024. Yonhap

GWACHEON — A special counsel team said Wednesday they were questioning former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid in 2024.

The team, led by special counsel Kwon Chang-young, suspects that Shim played a key role in an insurrection by reviewing the potential deployment of prosecutors to a joint martial law investigation headquarters on Dec. 3, 2024, the night Yoon declared martial law.

Shim allegedly had three phone calls with then Justice Minister Park Sung-jae at the time, raising suspicions that Park may have instructed him to dispatch prosecutors to the martial law body.

On Monday, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Park to 25 years in prison for his role in the martial law bid, including his instruction to Shim to send prosecutors to the martial law body.

Shim is also suspected of abusing his power by ordering his subordinates to not indict Yoon's wife, Kim Keon Hee, over various corruption allegations she faced when her husband was in office.