The second comprehensive special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young has identified indications that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) prepared a list of hundreds of so-called "security threat forces" during the martial law period, according to its investigation.
"We have confirmed indications that the NIS actively colluded in the martial law," Special Prosecutor Kim Ji-mi said at a regular briefing Thursday.
The special counsel team believes the NIS's security investigation department prepared to dispatch liaison officers or investigators to the martial law command at the time. It found that the department actually selected two senior officials to be dispatched as liaison officers at the request of the personnel unit under then-Planning and Coordination Director Kim Nam-woo. The team has booked former Planning and Coordination Director Kim for investigation on charges of participating in an insurrection.
"We have also secured important testimony that can prove the charges against former Colonel Cho Sung-hyun, the first guard regiment commander of the Army Capital Defense Command," Kim said, adding that testimony was obtained stating that Colonel Cho ordered troops to "enter the National Assembly" during the martial law.
The special counsel team also summoned and questioned former Defense Intelligence Command chief Noh Sang-won on Thursday as a suspect on charges of preparing and conspiring to commit murder for the purpose of insurrection. In connection with former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung's alleged engagement in an important duty of insurrection, the team also executed a search and seizure warrant for a PC used by a senior Supreme Prosecutors' Office official and messenger log records.
Regarding the presidential residence relocation allegations, the team will question former administrative official Yoo Kyung-ok on Friday as a suspect on charges of aiding and abetting influence peddling. Yoo, who is accused of being involved throughout the process by which 21 Gram, the construction firm during the 2022 presidential residence relocation project, handed over Dior clothing and other goods to the first lady, had been scheduled to appear Thursday but submitted a statement of reasons saying preparation time was needed.
The team is reviewing whether to re-request arrest warrants for former Korea Coast Guard officials whose warrants were sought and rejected on charges of participating in an insurrection and abuse of power. On the 1st, the special counsel team requested arrest warrants for former Commissioner Kim and former Planning and Coordination Officer Ahn, among others, alleging they systematically mobilized the Coast Guard immediately after the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, on charges of participating in an insurrection and abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights, but the court rejected the request on the 3rd.
Meanwhile, in connection with allegations of quashing the investigation into the Deutsch Motors stock manipulation case, the special counsel team plans to summon and question former presidential personnel secretary Lee Won-mo on Friday and former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung on the 10th.
