Yoon Considered Martial Law for More Than Half of His 1,060-Day Term [Update]

[Financial News] The scenario uncovered by the Special Counsel for Insurrection after a 180-day investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol involved provoking a wartime or crisis situation through a military provocation by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), declaring martial law, seizing control of the military, securing legislative and judicial powers, eliminating opposition forces, and ultimately establishing a dictatorship.
Announcing the investigation results on the 15th, Special Counsel Cho Eun-seok stated, "Yoon Suk Yeol began preparing for martial law before the April 2024 general election and attempted to provoke a military incident by the DPRK to justify declaring martial law, but failed." He added, "Yoon declared martial law with the intention of seizing legislative and judicial powers by force through the military, eliminating political opponents, and monopolizing and maintaining power."
On the 15th, the special counsel team released its findings in the 'Special Counsel Investigation Results on Insurrection and Treason Acts by Former President Yoon Suk Yeol and Others.' According to the team, Yoon began preparing for martial law before October 2023. The investigation revealed that, out of his total 1,060-day term in office—from his inauguration on May 10, 2022, to his impeachment on April 4, 2025—Yoon spent more than half (54%) of his time focusing on martial law rather than state affairs.
The special counsel team further concluded that Yoon enforced martial law to eliminate political opposition by force and to monopolize and maintain power.
He allegedly sought to establish an unchecked dictatorship by mobilizing the military to seize judicial authority and forming an emergency legislative body to control legislative power, thereby dominating the legislative, judicial, and executive branches. Notably, despite his background as a former prosecutor, Yoon reportedly harbored hostility toward Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party and also a former prosecutor, as well as toward the judiciary.
According to the special counsel team, in July 2024, Yoon referred to Han Dong-hoon as a 'commie' in a conversation with Kang Ho-pil, then Deputy Chairman of the ROK JCS, whom Yoon had appointed as Minister of Justice. Three months later, on October 1, during a dinner with military commanders, Yoon allegedly said, 'Bring me Han Dong-hoon. I will shoot him dead.' The team also concluded that Yoon attempted to arrest judges who issued rulings he did not favor.
The special counsel team stated, "It is evident that Yoon Suk Yeol, rather than acting on conviction, sought to eliminate those who opposed or defied him by labeling them as anti-state forces and using martial law as a means of removal."
hwlee@fnnews.com Lee Hwan-joo Reporter