ROK approves to probe ex-president Yoon couple's insurrection, corruption

SEOUL - The Republic of Korea (ROK) on Tuesday approved the special council bill to probe the impeached former president Yoon Suk-yeol couple's insurrection and corruption allegations, according to the Blue House.

The so-called comprehensive special counsel act was approved in its original form at the cabinet meeting, presided over by President Lee Jae-myung, in a bid to investigate unresolved issues and new allegations from three previous special counsel probes involving Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee.

The approval came four days after the bill was passed in the National Assembly under the leadership of the ruling Democratic Party.

The act covers 17 key allegations, including those surrounding Yoon's short-lived martial law imposition in December 2024 and attempts to provoke the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) into an armed conflict by sending drones to Pyongyang, as well as election interference and stock manipulation involving Yoon's wife.

The investigation can last up to 170 days, including 20 days for preparation, and involve as many as 251 members, such as the special counsel, deputies, dispatched prosecutors and investigators.

Yoon was sentenced to five years in prison last week on arrest obstruction charges.

The first-instance sentencing for Yoon's insurrection charges was scheduled for Feb 19. The special counsel sought a death penalty for Yoon on the charges.