South Korea forms joint team to probe Yoon martial law case
The unit will take over cases left by expired special prosecutor teams, while staffing and the office location are still being worked out.
South Korea's Serious Crime Investigation Agency and police will set up a joint team to probe leftover cases from former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed December 2024 martial law bid, Yonhap reported on Thursday.
The unit will handle every outstanding matter tied to the martial law attempt, including files passed on from special prosecutor teams whose mandates have ended.
The two agencies are still settling staffing and where the office will be based, officials said.
The Serious Crime Investigation Agency plans to send a senior director-level official who is a former prosecutor, while the police will assign Kang Il-goo, the officer who has been leading inquiries into allegations first examined by the three initial special counsel teams, officials said.
The team's headquarters is expected to be placed at a police facility or at a third location, officials said.
The agency's own office is still under construction, officials said.
The idea of a joint investigation body was first raised in August by Kwon Chang-young, who led a broad special counsel probe into the martial law declaration.
Kwon argued at the time that a long-term joint team would be needed for as long as the insurrection forces kept their capabilities and resolve.
Earlier inquiries into the short-lived martial law declaration did not cover all related issues.
South Korea first ran three separate special counsel teams, followed by a second, comprehensive probe led by Kwon.
The Serious Crime Investigation Agency opened only about a month ago, as part of a major reform that removed the prosecution service's investigative powers.
