South Korea’s Yoon sought to sabotage media during martial law bid: investigators

The allegations are among a 101-page indictment put together by prosecutors seeking the impeached president’s conviction for insurrection

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Yoon Suk-yeol attends a hearing at the Constitutional Court in Seoul last month amid his ongoing impeachment trial. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 12:23pm, 4 Feb 2025Updated: 10:32pm, 4 Feb 2025

South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk-yeol attempted to cripple the country’s media outlets by cutting off their power and water supply during his failed martial law bid, according to investigators.

The latest allegation contradicts the impeached leader’s previous assertions that his short-lived decree was meant to expose the “dictatorship” of an opposition-controlled parliament and investigate alleged “election fraud”, which critics have dismissed as conspiracy theories spread by right-wing extremists.

At a Constitutional Court hearing on Tuesday to determine whether to uphold his impeachment by the National Assembly, Yoon denied accusations that he ordered martial law commanders to raid the legislature and stop lawmakers from voting to lift the decree.

“Nothing [serious] has happened and what [prosecutors] are doing is like chasing the reflection of the moon on the lake,” Yoon told the court.

A leaked 101-page indictment prepared by prosecutors states that Yoon instructed his home minister, Lee Sang-min, to “blockade” and cut off electricity and water supply to non-compliant newspapers, including the Hankyoreh and Kyunghyang, as well as broadcasters MBC and JTBC.

The directive was reportedly issued at midnight on December 3, roughly 1½ hours after Yoon declared martial law.