South Korea is witnessing a major political and judicial upheaval as authorities arrest a former prime minister and ex-spy chief over their roles in the failed martial law declaration by ex-President Yoon Suk-yeol in December 2024. These developments come as prosecutors continue to build a high-profile case against the country’s disgraced former leader.

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Arrests of Former Officials

According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, Hwang Kyo-ahn, who previously served as prime minister, was taken into custody on Wednesday on charges of inciting insurrection.

Separately, Cho Tae-yong, former head of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), was arrested for multiple violations of the NIS law, including dereliction of duty. Prosecutors allege Cho, a career diplomat and once a close confidant of Yoon, knew about the martial law plan but failed to report it to the National Assembly, in violation of legal obligations.

“The NIS Act obliges its director to report to the National Assembly, as well as the president, if a situation with significant national security impact arises,” Yonhap reported.

Cho, during a hearing on Tuesday, denied all charges, while Hwang had previously posted on social media advocating for the arrest of the National Assembly speaker and the removal of officials allegedly involved in electoral fraud, according to prosecutors.

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The Martial Law Plot and Political Crisis

The arrests are part of the wider investigation into Yoon Suk-yeol’s attempted imposition of martial law, which plunged South Korea into a political crisis. In December 2024, armed soldiers were sent to the National Assembly to block lawmakers from countering Yoon’s martial law bid. The move failed, leading to Yoon’s detention in January 2025, marking him as the first sitting South Korean president to be taken into custody.

The latest indictment alleges that Yoon attempted to provoke military conflict with North Korea by sending drones over Pyongyang in October 2024. One drone reportedly crashed near North Korea’s capital, potentially causing a leak of military secrets.

State Prosecutor Park Ji-young said special counsel teams filed charges against Yoon for benefitting the enemy and abuse of power, reflecting the gravity of the allegations against the former president.

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Corruption Cases Against the Former First Couple

Adding to the political turmoil, Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon-hee, is also in custody, standing trial on corruption charges including stock manipulation. This marks the first time in South Korean history that a former president and first lady have been detained simultaneously.

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Implications for South Korea’s Political Landscape

The arrests of Hwang and Cho, alongside ongoing legal proceedings against Yoon and his wife, highlight ongoing concerns about abuse of executive power and threats to democratic institutions in South Korea. The failed martial law attempt, the drone incident over North Korea, and simultaneous corruption trials have sent shockwaves through the nation, raising fears over political stability and national security protocols.