Former Yoon Suk Yeol Staffer Suspected in North Korea Drone Incursion Case
A former staffer from Yoon Suk Yeol's presidential office is under investigation for allegedly making drones sent to North Korea. Explore the geopolitical implications.
A man who once monitored news reports at the heart of South Korea's power is now the target of a high-stakes military probe. According to Yonhap, a civilian suspect accused of manufacturing the drone allegedly flown into North Korea previously worked at the presidential office under former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Yoon Suk Yeol Office Drone Suspect and the Startup Connection
The suspect, a man in his 30s, was questioned on Friday by a joint military-police team. Sources say he served in the presidential spokesperson's office, monitoring media coverage. It's now emerged that he co-founded a drone startup in 2024 with another man who claims to have actually operated the drone sent across the border.
Police are digging into whether the two men colluded in the operation. The drone in question is reportedly identical to an unregistered model found near Yeoju in November 2025. While the operator claims the former staffer only built the drone at his request and wasn't involved in the flight, investigators aren't ruling anything out.
Geopolitical Fallout and Official Denials
The incident has already sparked a diplomatic firestorm. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader, demanded an apology from Seoul following drone incursions on September 27, 2025, and January 4, 2026. South Korea's military has consistently denied involvement, stating these weren't military-operated assets.
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