South Korean Special Counsel Finds Evidence of 2024 Martial Law Planning; Upholds Former First Lady's Sentence

A special counsel team in South Korea announced on May 4, 2026, that it found signs a military unit was making preparations for martial law operations in the first half of 2024. The preparations occurred well before former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law in December 2024.

Assistant special counsel Kim Ji-mi stated during a briefing that the Defense Counterintelligence Command prepared for martial law since the first half of 2024.

Kim Ji-mi made the statement at a briefing held at her team's office in Gwacheon, south of Seoul. The special counsel team is tasked with investigating allegations surrounding former President Yoon Suk Yeol, including his failed bid to impose martial law. These allegations cover matters not addressed by previous special counsels.

A briefing photo of Kim Ji-mi was taken on March 30, 2026. Separately, the special counsel team announced on May 4, 2026, that it challenged an appeals court ruling sentencing former first lady Kim Keon Hee to four years in prison on corruption charges. The Seoul High Court issued the ruling on Tuesday.

The Seoul High Court raised Kim Keon Hee's sentence from 20 months to four years in prison. The court found Kim Keon Hee partially guilty of involvement in a stock price manipulation scheme. The court also found her guilty of accepting luxury gifts from the Unification Church.

Special counsel Min Joong-ki's team sought a 15-year prison term for Kim Keon Hee. The special counsel team indicted Kim Keon Hee on charges of violating the Capital Markets Act. The team also indicted her on charges of violating the Political Funds Act and a law on the acceptance of bribes for mediation.