South Korea’s Martial Law Probe Concludes After 180 Days, Revealing Yoon’s Power‑Consolidation Plans
Updated (3 articles)
Special counsel alleges Yoon’s martial‑law plan targeted opposition The special counsel testified that President Yoon intended the December 3 martial‑law declaration to eliminate political opponents and monopolize state power, a claim echoed by Kyunghyang Shinmun, Kookmin Daily, and Hankyoreh [3]. All three outlets framed the move as a direct effort to suppress dissent rather than a security measure. The allegations focus on Yoon’s alleged use of emergency powers to reshape the political landscape.
Official probe wraps after six months, confirming early preparation Korea JoongAng Daily reported that the parliamentary investigation into the martial‑law scheme formally ended after the mandated 180‑day period [3]. Korea Herald added that internal documents show Yoon had been preparing the plan since at least October 2023, underscoring premeditation. The closure marks the conclusion of the longest‑running inquiry into executive overreach in recent Korean history.
Democratic Party revises insurrection‑tribunal proposal amid constitutional debate Kookmin Daily noted that the Democratic Party altered its push for a special insurrection tribunal after legal scholars raised constitutional objections, shifting the tribunal’s timing and judge‑selection rules [2]. The revision aims to address concerns that the original plan could undermine judicial independence. This legislative adjustment reflects broader political fallout from the martial‑law controversy.
Media spotlight links martial‑law probe to broader governance reforms Across the coverage, newspapers highlighted related reforms such as the government’s move to enable collective bargaining for small firms and a proposed KOSDAQ spin‑off, indicating that the martial‑law issue sits within a wider agenda of institutional change [3]. Labor and economic headlines accompanied the political story, suggesting a multifaceted pressure on the Yoon administration.
Sources
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1.
Yonhap: Top headlines in major S. Korean newspapers – Summarizes diverse domestic news on Dec 18, including military leaflets to North Korea, franchise collective‑action calls, dementia‑related guardianship data, collective‑bargaining policy shifts, a Unification Church DMZ statement, and a Coupang founder’s comment after a worker’s death .
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Yonhap: Top headlines in major South Korean newspapers on Dec. 17 – Covers Coupang’s growth‑exploitation paradox, Democratic Party’s insurrection‑tribunal revision, financial abuse in nursing homes, Lee Jae‑myung’s health‑insurance review, labor‑injury reporting gaps, delivery‑ban complaints, a heated IPO market, and speculation on a 2026 Trump‑Kim summit .
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Yonhap: South Korean newspapers' top headlines center on martial law probe and politics – Details the special counsel’s claim that Yoon’s martial‑law bid sought to crush opposition, reports on dementia‑patient asset stripping, outlines a KOSDAQ spin‑off plan, and notes that the probe concluded after 180 days with evidence of Yoon’s preparation dating to Oct 2023 .
Timeline
Oct 2023 – Yoon prepares for martial law, according to the special counsel, indicating that plans to consolidate power are already in place by this month [3].
Dec 3, 2025 – Yoon declares martial law, a move the special counsel says aims to eliminate opposition and monopolize power, sparking constitutional concerns [3].
Dec 15, 2025 – The special counsel alleges Yoon’s martial law bid intends to eliminate political opponents and monopolize power, echoing the quote “Yoon declared martial law to eliminate opposition power by force” [3].
Dec 15, 2025 – Korea Economic Daily reports a plan to spin off KOSDAQ as a separate exchange modeled on Nasdaq, signaling a major market restructuring [3].
Dec 15, 2025 – Donga Ilbo reveals that 70,000 elderly dementia patients lose assets, with only 49 recognized as victims, highlighting systemic elder abuse [3].
Dec 17, 2025 – The Democratic Party revises its push for a special insurrection tribunal, adjusting nomination powers for senior judges to address constitutional worries [2].
Dec 17, 2025 – Lee urges a review of health‑insurance policies for patients who decline life‑sustaining treatment, linking coverage to end‑of‑life autonomy [2].
Dec 17, 2025 – English‑language dailies note speculation of a Trump‑Kim summit in 2026 and the creation of a new US‑South Korea policy body, alongside a growth fund targeting AI and chip development [2].
Dec 17, 2025 – Labor reports show 70 % of street cleaners hesitate to report injuries, and an overnight delivery ban limits workers’ rights, underscoring ongoing labor grievances [2].
Dec 17, 2025 – Korea Economic Daily observes an unusually hot IPO market toward year‑end, indicating strong capital‑raising activity despite broader tensions [2].
Dec 18, 2025 – The military distributes propaganda leaflets to North Korea 23 times during the former president’s term, reflecting heightened inter‑Korean tension [1].
Dec 18, 2025 – The government announces plans to change policy to enable collective bargaining for small and midsized firms, aiming to strengthen labor rights [1].
Dec 18, 2025 – The Unification Church issues a rare statement on DMZ access control, marking an unusual religious‑political intervention [1].
Dec 18, 2025 – Coupang’s founder calls for preserving records of hard work after a worker’s death, highlighting corporate‑culture concerns [1].
2026 – A Trump‑Kim summit and the launch of a US‑South Korea growth fund for AI and chips are expected to shape bilateral relations and technology investment strategies [2].