In a significant development in South Korea’s ongoing investigation into the martial law declaration by President Yoon Suk Yeol, Lt. Gen.
Yeo In-hyung, the Chief of the Defence Counterintelligence Command, was arrested on Saturday. He faces multiple charges, including insurrection, as prosecutors delve deeper into the controversial events surrounding the martial law that was declared last week.
The arrest took place after a military court issued an arrest warrant for Yeo, making him the second prominent figure apprehended in connection with the martial law inquiry. The first was former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who was detained earlier.
Yeo's arrest is particularly notable as he becomes the first active-duty military officer to be taken into custody in the investigation, according to Yonhap news agency.
Yeo is accused of issuing orders to send troops from his unit to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission after martial law was declared on December 3.
Although the martial law was revoked just hours later, following a vote in the National Assembly to reject it, the actions that led to its imposition remain under intense scrutiny.
The charges against Yeo also include the illegal arrest of 14 individuals, including key leaders from both the ruling and opposition parties, and the procurement of computer servers from the election commission.
The military court, after reviewing the charges, concluded that the allegations against Yeo were serious enough to justify his arrest. Additionally, the court deemed him a flight risk, which led to the immediate execution of the arrest warrant.
Yeo’s lawyer, Park Yong-seok, has stated that the General intends to fully address and counter the accusations during the ongoing investigation or at his trial. The legal team has expressed confidence that Yeo will have the opportunity to clarify the situation in due course.
As the investigation unfolds, it has been revealed that Yeo ordered his troops to arrest several prominent figures without warrants. These individuals included Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, and National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik.
The detainees were allegedly held in a military bunker at the Capital Defence Command.
Yeo’s arrest is expected to provide further momentum to the prosecution’s efforts in uncovering the full extent of the martial law declaration and its implications.
The investigation is now focused on understanding President Yoon’s role in the decision to impose martial law, with some suggesting that he may have been the mastermind behind the move.
In a related development, prosecutors also arrested Lt. Gen. Lee Jin-woo, the chief of South Korea’s Capital Defence Command, on Friday.
Lee’s arrest is part of the broader investigation into his alleged involvement in the martial law declaration, highlighting the seriousness with which the authorities are treating the situation.
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