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By Hyonhee Shin
SEOUL (Reuters) – South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, several cabinet ministers, military commanders and police officials face criminal investigations over the president’s failed attempt last week to impose martial law.
Prosecutors, police and the Corruption Investigation Bureau for High-ranking Officials have launched investigations into Yoon and the officials, seeking to file charges of insurrection and abuse of power, among others.
Here’s what we know about the investigations so far:
WHO IS UNDER INVESTIGATION?
In addition to Yoon, his former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and army chief Park An-su, who was named martial law commander, face investigations.
Others involved in the case include the heads of the Capital Defense Command, the army’s Special Warfare Command and the Defense Counterintelligence Command, as well as several other military generals and senior police officials, including the heads of the national and Seoul police, who are accused of playing a role in the martial law plan.
The main opposition Democratic Party said on Monday it also filed a complaint against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to be included in investigations for failing to block Yoon’s attempt to impose martial law.
Yoon, Kim, Lee, the national and Seoul police chiefs and 10 military commanders have been banned from leaving the country.
Prosecutors summoned Kim for questioning for the third time on Monday since they arrested him a day earlier, and carried out raids on the Defense Counterintelligence Command headquarters and offices across the country, according to the Yonhap news agency.
Police also raided the Defense Ministry and the Capital Defense Command on Thursday, seeking to confiscate Kim’s secure phones and related materials, Yonhap said.
WHO LEADS THE INVESTIGATIONS?
The Supreme Prosecutor’s Office has set up a special investigation office to examine the case for the first time since it investigated a 2016 corruption scandal involving then-President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached and eventually ousted.
It consists of about 50 prosecutors and investigators, and a dozen military prosecutors have also been recruited, Yonhap said.
The head of investigations at the national police agency also confirmed the start of his investigation at a parliamentary hearing on Thursday, and Yonhap said his team would include about 150 officers and investigators.
The Corruption Investigation Office for Senior Officials (CIO) said it had separately opened an investigation after receiving complaints about national police chief Cho Ji-ho and other senior police officials.
Amid growing concerns about signs of rivalry between investigative agencies and calls for concerted efforts to avoid overlaps and increase effectiveness, a joint investigation team between the police, the CIO and the Ministry of Defense was launched on Wednesday.
CIO chief Oh Dong-woon said on Wednesday that talks were underway with prosecutors about how to integrate their work, but that a quick conclusion seemed unlikely.
Parliament this week approved bills for the appointment of special counsels who will lead a collective investigation with the support of other agencies.
WHAT POSITIONS ARE REQUESTED?
The officials face possible charges of insurrection, abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of their rights by others.
If convicted, the crime of leading an insurrection is punishable by death or life imprisonment, with or without prison labor. For those who participated in an insurrection plot or engaged in other essential activities, punishment could range from death to life imprisonment and imprisonment without prison labor for at least five years. People who simply participated in the plot or violence face prison sentences, with or without prison labor, of less than five years.
Abuse of authority carries a prison sentence of less than five years or fines of up to 10 million won ($7,000), while obstruction of other people’s rights is punishable by a prison sentence of less than five years or fines. up to 7 million won.
South Korea last handed down a death sentence in 2016, but has not executed anyone since 1997.
