Overview
- Special prosecutors on Nov. 10 filed new counts against Yoon Suk Yeol, charging him with benefiting the enemy and abuse of power tied to alleged October 2024 drone missions toward Pyongyang.
- Former defense minister Kim Yong-hyun and ex-counterintelligence chief Yeo In-hyung were indicted on the same charges, while Drone Operations Command head Kim Yong-dae was charged with obstruction and falsifying documents.
- Prosecutors cite forensic notes urging creation of instability and targeting Pyongyang or Wonsan, and say a crashed drone exposed classified data and harmed South Korea’s military interests.
- The government launched a task force to review possible misconduct across 49 central agencies through Jan. 31, with 12 bodies designated for intensive inspection.
- On Nov. 12, a Seoul court arrested former NIS director Cho Tae-yong for dereliction of duty and related offenses, and the special counsel detained former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on suspicion of inciting insurrection, while renewing a bid to detain ex-justice minister Park Sung-jae.