The second special prosecutors' team investigating allegations of support from the National Intelligence Service (NIS) for the joint investigation team during the emergency martial law on December 3 has summoned Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the NIS, for the fourth time. Based on the results of today’s questioning, the team is expected to consider whether to request an arrest warrant or proceed with an indictment against Hong.
According to legal sources on June 26, the second special prosecutors' team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, began questioning Hong at 10 a.m. as a suspect for serious duties related to insurrection and violations of the NIS Act. This marks the fourth questioning since the third session on June 22.
Hong arrived at the special prosecutors' office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, at around 9:20 a.m. and told reporters, "It seems the special prosecutors are presuming that the NIS was involved in the illegal emergency martial law and insurrection on that day."
He emphasized, "The key issue is what was discussed in the political meeting at that time, and I have consistently stated for a year and a half that I did not share the president's instructions with other political officials." He reiterated, "The NIS had no involvement whatsoever in the coup or insurrection at that time."
When asked if support for the joint investigation team was discussed during the meeting on the day of the coup, he responded, "There was no such discussion, so the NIS had no involvement in the insurrection or coup at that time." Regarding the possibility of indictment, he stated, "I cannot assert anything, but as I reflect on the fourth questioning, I don't think I did anything significantly wrong."
The special prosecutors' team is examining whether Hong participated in discussions about establishing communication lines with the Military Counterintelligence Command and support for the joint investigation team during political meetings held at the NIS following the declaration of emergency martial law on December 3, 2024.
In particular, the team suspects that during a meeting Hong chaired that night, plans for communication with the counterintelligence agency and support for the joint investigation team were discussed. Hong's side has countered that the meeting lasted only about ten minutes and was intended to organize each department's tasks and measures in light of the emergency situation the following day.
The team is also investigating whether Hong was involved in the process of translating a document related to the emergency martial law, prepared by the National Security Office the day after the coup, into English for delivery to U.S. intelligence agencies. Some reports have suggested that Hong was instructed by then-NIS Director Cho Tae-yong to convey a message justifying the coup to the CIA.
Hong has denied these allegations as well, stating, "There is nothing new in the reports that have already been covered by the media multiple times." He added that he never received instructions to convey a message to the CIA and argued that applying insurrection charges to actions taken after the end of the coup would be unjust.
The special prosecutors' team previously summoned Hong for questioning on three occasions: on May 22, June 11, and June 22. Through today's fourth questioning, they aim to comprehensively verify whether support for the joint investigation team was discussed during the political and departmental meetings and whether Hong was involved in the delivery of the emergency martial law explanation document to foreign intelligence agencies.
Hong has been regarded as a key whistleblower after testifying about his conversations with former President Yoon Suk Yeol during the impeachment trial and the investigation by the insurrection special investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok. However, the special prosecutors' team is currently investigating whether the NIS was involved in supporting the joint investigation team and external explanation efforts during the coup, transitioning Hong into a suspect in the investigation.
Meanwhile, the special prosecutors' team is also questioning Kang Dong-gil, former Chief of Naval Operations, regarding allegations of his involvement in the formation of the emergency command during the coup. Kang served as the head of the Military Support Headquarters during the emergency martial law period.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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