Former South Korean President Faces Fresh Accusation in Corruption Probe

South Korean prosecutors hit former President Yoon Suk Yeol with new charges yesterday, including helping the enemy. They claim he ordered drone flights over North Korea to build his case for declaring martial law.

The charges stem from drone incidents that happened last year. North Korea said it had "proof" that the South sent drones to drop propaganda leaflets over Pyongyang. Seoul never confirmed this happened.

But prosecutors opened a special investigation this year to dig deeper. They wanted to know if Yoon illegally sent those drones to provoke North Korea on purpose. The theory is that he planned to use North Korea's angry response as an excuse to declare military rule.

This adds another layer to the legal troubles facing Yoon, who was impeached in December after his failed martial law attempt. The drone allegations suggest his martial law plan wasn't a sudden decision, but something he may have been setting up for months.

The "aiding the enemy" charge is serious in South Korea, where the country technically remains at war with North Korea. If prosecutors can prove Yoon deliberately escalated tensions for political gain, it could mean he put national security at risk for personal power.

For South Korea's democracy, this case matters because it's testing whether presidents can manufacture crises to justify emergency powers. The outcome could set important precedents about presidential accountability and the limits of executive authority during tense periods with North Korea.