(MENAFN) South Korea has formally indicted former President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday for “benefiting the enemy,” linked to his alleged deployment of drones to North Korea last year.

The special counsel also accused Yoon of abusing his power, claiming he ordered the drone operation in October to provoke retaliation from Pyongyang and use the response to justify a potential declaration of martial law in December.

The investigation, led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk, has been examining Yoon’s alleged attempts to impose martial law. Earlier, he faced charges of obstructing authorities trying to detain him in January and violating the rights of Cabinet members during the martial law decree.

Prosecutors reportedly considered charging Yoon with inciting foreign aggression, but this would have required proof of collusion with an enemy state. Instead, he was charged with "benefiting the enemy in general" after investigators concluded that the October 2024 drone operation caused a leak of military secrets when the drones crashed near Pyongyang.

Other officials indicted include former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command Yeo In-hyung, both accused of aiding the enemy and abusing their power. Kim Yong-dae, head of the Drone Operations Command, was also indicted without detention for obstructing official duties and ordering the creation of false documents.

Separately, Yoon faces additional charges of insurrection tied to the martial law decree. He has been in custody since July.

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