Did South Korea’s Yoon use fortune-telling to plan his failed martial law bid?

Noh Sang-won, an ex-intelligence chief, has allegedly advised Yoon Suk-yeol on his martial law decree’s timing based on fortune-telling

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People watch a televised address by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol at Seoul Railway Station in Seoul on December 12. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:00am, 24 Dec 2024

A retired intelligence chief arrested in connection with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s failed martial law bid has come under the spotlight over allegations that he was also a fortune-teller who might have played a key role in the political fiasco.

Noh Sang-won, the former head of South Korea’s Army Intelligence Command, was taken into custody on charges of helping to orchestrate Yoon’s plan to declare martial law on December 3.

Noh was reportedly doubling as a fortune-teller while exploiting his extensive network in the military and government to meddle in military promotions and later intervened in the planning and imposition of the martial law decree.

Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee, have long been dogged by allegations that they frequently consult fortune-tellers on key matters, ranging from relocating the presidential office and residence to selecting dates for official overseas trips.

This practice might have extended to the planning of the martial law decree, critics say.

“We cannot rule out the possibility that the date of the failed coup was chosen based on advice from fortune-tellers,” said Lee Jun-han, a political-science professor at Incheon National University.