South Korean prosecutors are investigating members of former President Moon Jae-in’s government over the 2019 forced repatriation of two North Koreans, whose return to face criminal charges and likely execution had been denounced by critics as a violation of human rights.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s administration this week released photos of the blindfolded and bound fishermen getting dragged across the border. His office issued a statement saying their return to face charges of murdering their fellow crewmen on a fishing boat was "a crime against humanity that violated both international law and the constitution.”

The rising tension between Yoon and Moon underscores the difficulties of former South Korean presidents, all of whom have either personally, or had relatives, face criminal investigations after leaving office.