Prosecutors Alleged South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Ordered Power and Water Cuts for Media Outlets—Details in Indictment

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is facing serious allegations after prosecutors claimed that he ordered power and water cuts for specific media outlets during the martial law declaration. The official indictment includes these details.

According to the indictment, submitted to the National Assembly on Monday, Yoon showed a document to former Minister of the Interior and Safety, Lee Sang Min, before a Cabinet meeting on December 3 of last year. The document reportedly instructed Lee to have the Fire Department cut off power and water supplies to certain media outlets, including Kyunghyang Shinmun, Hankyoreh, MBC, JTBC, and the polling agency Flower Research.

In response, Lee reportedly instructed the Fire Chief to implement the power and water cuts, stating that police forces had already been deployed and the National Police Agency should coordinate the operation.

The order was reportedly relayed through the Deputy Chief of the Fire Agency and eventually reached the head of the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters. However, reports indicate that the police did not request the Fire Agency’s assistance carrying out the power and water cuts on that day.

Lee did not make any specific comments regarding the matter during his earlier police investigation and has refused to testify in the National Assembly.

Despite this, prosecutors say they obtained testimony from the Fire Agency chief and other attendees of the Cabinet meeting, which led them to include details about the power and water cut document in the indictment.

Indictment Contradicts Testimonies on Troop Deployment When Martial Law Declared

The indictment also provides new details about Yoon’s conversation with former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyuntwo days before the declaration of martial law. The two discussed the number of troops deployed to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission.

According to the indictment, on December 1, Yoon asked Kim, “If martial law is declared now, how many troops can we mobilize?”

In response, Kim said that between 20,000 to 30,000 troops could be mobilized from units in the capital region, but if only a small number were needed, around 3,000 to 5,000 troops from the Special Warfare Command and the Civil Defense Command could be deployed.

Yoon suggested prioritizing the deployment of police forces while using military personnel primarily in leadership roles. When he asked, “How many troops would be needed if we deploy mainly officers?” Kim responded that around 1,000 personnel, including two battalions from the Defense Security Command and two brigades from the Special Warfare Command, would be available.

Yoon reportedly responded, “With that number of troops, they can be deployed to the National Assembly and the Election Commission.”

However, this conversation contradicts Kim’s earlier testimony during the Constitutional Court’s impeachment hearings, in which he claimed that Yoon had ordered only about 250 troops during the emergency.

The indictment also reveals more about the events after the declaration of martial law. As military and police forces blocked access to the National Assembly, lawmakers managed to scale the walls and gather in the main chamber. In response, Yoon allegedly called former Army Commander Lee Jin Woo, instructing him to prevent a vote on lifting martial law.

At the time, Yoon, overseeing operations near the National Assembly, asked Lee about the situation on the ground. Lee reportedly replied, “Everything is blocked. So, I told them to climb over the walls. When we arrived at the National Assembly, we couldn’t get in. There were too many people.”

The indictment also reveals that after learning that lawmakers had not entered the assembly hall, Yoon reportedly issued a direct order: “You still haven’t entered? Go to the main chamber and have four people carry one out. ” “You still haven’t gotten in? What are you doing? Break down the door, even if you have to fire your weapons, and drag them out.”

Additionally, Kim is cited in the indictment as saying during a meeting of key military commanders shortly after the declaration of martial law, “In line with the President’s wishes, I will issue the operational orders. The Minister is responsible for all military activities.” He also reportedly added, “Focus only on the assigned tasks, and anyone who disobeys orders will be punished for insubordination.”