Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has appointed six assistant special counsels to support a new investigation into insurrection charges related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration, the presidential office said Friday. Independent counsel Cho Eun-suk recommended eight assistant counsel nominees for the positions and formally requested their appointments through the Ministry of Personnel and Management.

According to Yonhap News Agency, under the relevant law, the president is required to appoint assistant special counsels within five days of receiving the request. On Thursday, Cho's team said they had indicted former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on charges including obstruction of official duties and abetting the destruction of evidence in relation to the imposition of martial law.

Lee is also expected to appoint four additional assistant special counsels by Saturday to assist in a separate investigation into influence-peddling allegations surrounding the 2023 drowning death of a Marine during a search and rescue operation.