Politics · South Korea · 1 hr ago
South Korea to set up joint team on Yoon's martial law bid
South Korea's Serious Crime Investigation Agency and police are preparing a joint team to investigate Yoon's failed martial law bid in December 2024.
The team is expected to handle all remaining cases linked to the declaration, including cases passed on by special prosecutor teams whose work has ended.
Earlier investigations included two rounds of special counsel probes, but they did not cover every related issue.
The Serious Crime Investigation Agency opened about a month ago as part of a reform that removed the prosecution service's investigative powers.
Officials are working out who will staff the team and where it will be based.
The agencies are expected to assign senior officials to the team, but its launch details have not yet been settled.
South Korea’s Serious Crimes Agency and police are preparing to jointly run a special investigation headquarters for cases related to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law.
The agencies are discussing staffing and where to set up the headquarters.
They are considering appointing one official from each agency as co-heads, but the leadership has not been finalized.
The headquarters is expected to investigate cases left over from earlier special counsel teams and other cases related to the alleged insurrection.
- Who
- South Korea’s Serious Crimes Agency and police.
- What
- They are discussing jointly operating a special investigation headquarters for cases related to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law.
- When
- The discussions were reported on Nov. 5, 2026.
- Where
- The location has not been decided; it may be at a police facility or another site.
- Why
- To investigate cases left over from earlier special counsel teams and other cases related to the alleged insurrection.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kwon Chang-young formally proposed creating a special headquarters to continue long-term investigations into the Dec. 3 martial law case.
The Serious Crimes Agency and police were reported to be discussing the headquarters’ staffing and location.
- Agencies
- Serious Crimes Agency and police
- Case
- Dec. 3 emergency martial law
- Potential police appointee
- Kang Il-gu, a senior superintendent general
- Potential leadership
- One official from each agency may serve as co-heads
- Potential location
- Police facility or a third-party location
- Scope
- Cases handed over by three special counsel teams and the second comprehensive special counsel team, plus other related cases
4 sources
What people are saying
It is appropriate to establish a special headquarters with various investigative agencies participating jointly, and to continue systematic, long-term investigations in the form of a permanent organization.