Former President Yoon Suk-yeol appeared at the Special Investigation Team for Insurrection at 9:55 a.m. on the 28th. The special investigation began at 10:14 a.m. It is reported that the special investigation will look into suspicions regarding Yoon's involvement in the declaration of a state of emergency on December 3 and allegations of inducing an attack from North Korea. Attorneys Kim Hong-il, Song Jin-ho, and Chae Myung-sung are expected to participate in the special investigation process.
The Special Investigative Act for Insurrection designates 11 criminal allegations related to former President Yoon's insurrection activities, foreign currency solicitation actions, and military rebellion connected to the declaration of a state of emergency on December 3 as subjects of investigation.
There are several allegations directly related to the declaration of the state of emergency on December 3. These include charges of inciting a riot with the intent to disrupt the Constitution, attempting to obstruct the National Assembly's vote to lift the emergency declaration using military and police forces, controlling and blockading the National Assembly causing personal injury and damage to property, and attempts to arrest and detain politicians, legal professionals, and journalists. Additionally, allegations of illegally occupying or conducting searches on the National Election Commission, media companies, and political party offices are also subjects of the special investigation.
Former President Yoon is already indicted for the insurrection charges and is undergoing trial in the first instance. The investigation team of the special prosecution (Special Investigation Headquarters) arrested and indicted Yoon on January 26 for leading insurrection and obstruction of the exercise of authority.
Accordingly, the special investigation team is expected to focus on clarifying the allegations of foreign affairs. The crime of foreign affairs involves conspiracies with foreign nations to cause harm to our country. Should a foreign entity engage in hostile acts against Korea, penalties include a sentence of imprisonment for not less than three years or life; if the entity assists an enemy state and endangers the existence and safety of the nation, the punishment could be death or life imprisonment.
The allegations against former President Yoon regarding foreign affairs center around claims that actions were taken to induce war, including sending drones to Pyongyang or considering strikes on the origin of balloon attacks, to create a 'national emergency akin to war, conflict, or a similar situation,' which are required for the declaration of an emergency. The Democratic Party of Korea filed a police complaint against former President Yoon and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun for foreign affairs violations on December 9 of last year.
However, there has been little revealed about the foreign affairs allegations in the ongoing investigations or trials related to the emergency declaration by prosecutors.
The special investigation team is expected to conduct inquiries based on notes found belonging to former Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won, which contained remarks like 'inducing North Korean attacks at the Northern Limit Line (NLL)' and 'striking North Korea's balloon attacks.' Previously, prosecutors stated that 'the credibility of the notebook contents is questionable,' thus only indicting former Commander Noh for important duties related to insurrection and abuse of power.