ROK extends independent counsel probe into ex-presidential couple

The Republic of Korea's (ROK) ruling party-controlled parliament passed a bill on Tuesday to extend a high-profile independent counsel probe into former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee.

The National Assembly, led by the Democratic Party, passed the comprehensive special counsel act amendment to investigate insurrection, treason and corruption involving the former presidential couple in a unanimous 173-0 vote, after cutting short a 24-hour filibuster by the main conservative opposition People Power Party that boycotted the vote in protest.

Under the law, the filibuster can be forcibly ended after 24 hours if backed by a three-fifths majority of the 300-member legislative chamber.

With the parliamentary approval, the independent counsel team was allowed to extend its investigation to August 23.

Yoon was sentenced to life in prison in February for the insurrection stemming from his martial law declaration and 30 years in prison in June for the general treason relevant to the infiltration of drones into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Yoon declared emergency martial law on the night of December 3, 2024, but the National Assembly revoked it hours later.

He was indicted under detention in January 2025 as a suspected ringleader of the insurrection, becoming the first sitting president to be arrested and indicted.

Kim, who was indicted under detention in August 2025, faced various charges of corruption, including bribery, stock manipulation and illegal polling.

She became the first wife of a former South Korean president to be tried under detention.