The Cabinet on Tuesday approved bills to appoint special counsels to probe a botched martial law bid by former President Yoon Suk Yeol and corruption allegations against his wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee.

South Korea’s liberal-led legislature has voted overwhelmingly to launch special investigations into former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived imposition of martial law in December and criminal allegations against his wife.

Pre-election surveys suggest Yoon Suk Yeol's liberal rival, Lee Jae-myung, appears headed for an easy win, riding a wave of public frustration in the wake of Yoon's martial law debacle.