Seoul (Web Desk): Two senior South Korean military officers, including Army Chief Park An-su, have been formally charged and detained as part of an investigation into a brief and controversial martial law decree issued last month.
Park and Lieutenant General Kwak Jong-keun face serious accusations, including insurrection and abuse of power, after their involvement in a series of actions that prosecutors claim were intended to undermine the Constitution.
The incident dates back to December 3, when Park An-su, acting in his official capacity, unilaterally declared martial law, an order that has since been deemed unconstitutional by investigators.
They argue that the decree was an overreach of authority, potentially aimed at destabilizing the government.
Kwak Jong-keun, meanwhile, is accused of deploying special operations forces to the National Assembly in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from blocking the martial law.
This move was allegedly carried out under instructions from President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was impeached in the wake of the decree.
Within hours of the martial law being imposed, the South Korean National Assembly voted to revoke the order, signaling strong opposition to the decision. The political fallout from the incident deepened when Parliament moved to impeach President Yoon for his role in approving the decree.
The indictment of Park and Kwak marks a significant escalation in the investigation into this episode, with both men now facing charges that could have far-reaching consequences for their careers and the broader political landscape in South Korea.
