Police distanced themselves from reports that President Lee Jae-myung would order the creation of a special investigation headquarters for the insurrection case upon his return home, saying no concrete discussions have taken place so far.
The Korean National Police Agency said in a notice to the media on the 23rd that it had received a total of 46 cases from the comprehensive special counsel and was closely reviewing the case files while considering an appropriate investigative structure. "To date, there have been no concrete discussions within the police on forming a special investigation headquarters or on conducting a joint investigation with the Major Crimes Investigation Agency," the agency said. It added that it would complete its review of the records soon and issue a separate notice once an investigative structure is decided.
JTBC had earlier reported that Lee was considering ordering the creation of a special investigation headquarters immediately after returning home, to handle parts of the insurrection case that the comprehensive special counsel had not resolved. The report also said one option under review was to set up an investigative body within the police first and expand it after the Major Crimes Investigation Agency is launched.
The police had formed a special investigation headquarters in December last year to handle cases transferred from the three special counsel teams investigating the insurrection, Kim Keon-hee and the death of a Marine killed in the line of duty. That unit wound up its operations in July and was converted into a dedicated investigation team.
Before that, the police launched an investigation in the National Office of Investigation by forming a special investigation unit on emergency martial law immediately after the Dec. 3, 2024, martial law declaration.
