Overview
- Former President Yoon Suk Yeol was charged with benefiting the enemy and abuse of power tied to alleged October 2024 drone operations into North Korea.
- Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and ex-counterintelligence chief Yeo In-hyung were indicted on the same counts, while Drone Operations Command head Kim Yong-dae was charged without detention on related offenses.
- Investigators cite forensic notes recovered from Yeo’s phone urging the creation of instability and a provocation by the enemy as evidence of intent.
- The special counsel applied the national-security offense of benefiting the enemy, saying drones crashed near Pyongyang and exposed sensitive operational data, and did not pursue a collusion-based charge.
- Prosecutors said the drone-provocation probe is concluded and will now focus on martial law allegations, as Yoon remains jailed and on trial on separate insurrection charges.