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SEOUL (AP) — South Korea's former interim leader Choi Sang-mok was indicted Thursday on charges related to then-President Yoon Seok-yeol's brief declaration of martial law in December 2024, becoming the latest senior figure embroiled in legal troubles in the case.
Choi is one of three senior Yoon administration officials who served as acting president during the political crisis caused by the declaration of martial law.
Yoon is currently in jail facing criminal charges on sedition charges. Dozens of senior Yun administration officials and military commanders have also been arrested, indicted or investigated for their involvement in martial law and other charges.
On Thursday, an investigation team led by independent prosecutor Cho Eun-seok accused Choi of dereliction of duty for failing to fully restore three vacant seats on the nine-member Constitutional Court, which was discussing Yoon's removal.
Restoring the court to full capacity was seen as a move that could improve Yoon's prospects for removal, since the court's decision to remove him required the support of at least six judges. Choi, who served as vice prime minister and finance minister under Yoon, appointed two new judges but left the ninth seat vacant, citing a lack of bipartisan agreement when he became acting president.
In April, the court's eight judges unanimously decided to remove Yoon from office.
Cho's team also brought the same charge of dereliction of duty against another former acting leader, Han Dak-soo, Assistant Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young said at a news conference. Han, who served as Yoon's number two prime minister, was already indicted in August on the most serious charges of helping Yoon impose martial law.
Cho's team accused Han of trying to push Yoon's martial law decree through the Cabinet meeting to give it procedural legitimacy. Han claims he told Yoon that he opposed his plan to impose martial law.
Park said five other people, including Justice Minister Yoon, were also indicted Thursday on various charges related to the martial law crisis. He said Choi faces perjury charges also for comments he made at Han's trial.
The investigation into Yoon's imposition of martial law was one of three investigations by independent prosecutors targeting Yoon, his wife and associates. Those investigations were approved by new President Lee Jae-myung, who won early elections in June sparked by Yoon's ouster.
In August, Yoon's wife, Kim Keon-hee, was arrested and charged with violating financial market and political finance laws, as well as accepting bribes. Unification Church leader Hak Ja Han, 82, was later arrested and accused of instructing church officials to bribe a lawmaker close to Yoon.
The Unification Church scandal has rocked South Korea, with local media suggesting that some prominent politicians, including some in the Lee administration, may also have received money from the church.
On Thursday, Oceans Minister Chung Jae-soo denied any allegations of bribery but offered to resign, saying he did not want to be a burden to the Lee administration. Lee accepted Chun's resignation later Thursday.
Earlier this week, Lee called for a thorough investigation into allegations involving politicians and a religious group, without mentioning the Unite by name.
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This story was translated from English by an AP editor using a generative artificial intelligence tool.
