The second comprehensive special prosecutor's team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, is accelerating its investigations into the remaining cases of the three major special prosecutor teams (insurrection, Kim Geon-hee, and deceased marine) as it approaches the end of its investigation period in a month. Following the acquisition of documents and testimonies related to allegations of involvement in the martial law by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the team is simultaneously focusing on key cases, including supplementary investigations of the Joint Chiefs of Staff leadership and the reinvestigation of the Deutsche Motors case.
On June 29, the special prosecutor's office announced that it had summoned and questioned 18 suspects and 31 witnesses last week.
Regarding the insurrection case, the team has investigated former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, former Ministry of Justice Correctional Bureau Chief Shin Yong-hae, and former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won. Notably, Hong has been questioned four times as a suspect, and the special prosecutor's office has decided not to summon him again.
The special prosecutor's office expressed strong confidence in the case involving Hong. Deputy Special Prosecutor Kwon Young-bin stated, "There is not a single piece of evidence that supports the claims made by Hong, who denies the allegations. We have no issues proving the charges against him."
Additionally, the special prosecutor's office disclosed the status of its investigation into the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's alleged involvement in martial law. During the search of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the team secured a document titled 'Jurisdiction of Trials Under Martial Law,' which reportedly outlined the jurisdiction for trials and investigations in the event of a martial law declaration.
The team also obtained testimony from a Supreme Prosecutors' Office official stating that discussions were held on how to handle crimes under military court jurisdiction if martial law were to be enacted. Based on the acquired documents and testimonies, the special prosecutor's office is closely examining the involvement of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office leadership in the martial law.
The investigation into the Joint Chiefs of Staff's alleged involvement in insurrection, designated as the 'first recognized investigation,' is nearing completion. The special prosecutor's office has conducted supplementary investigations on four suspects, including former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Myung-soo. Reports indicate that Kim and others have denied the allegations, claiming they had no authority or played no substantial role regarding martial law.
In connection with the allegations of a 'blacklist' created by the Army Counterintelligence Command, the team has investigated former Counterintelligence Command Chief Yeo In-hyung, who had previously failed to respond to summons. He was questioned after the execution of an arrest warrant, but it is understood that he largely refused to answer questions or responded with claims of ignorance. Former Intelligence Command Chief Noh Sang-won is also reported to have denied allegations or refused to answer during the investigation.
Investigations related to Kim Geon-hee are also gaining momentum. This week, the special prosecutor's office plans to question former Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo, former Anti-Corruption Division Chief Choi Jae-hoon, Prosecutor Song In-seok, and former Gongju District Prosecutor Kim Min-goo regarding allegations of covering up the stock manipulation investigation involving Deutsche Motors.
The special prosecutor's office has confirmed that the prosecution exchanged written responses with Kim Geon-hee's side for about a year, adjusting the content, and is continuing the investigation under allegations of violating the Anti-Corruption Law. However, regarding the allegations of receiving a Dior bag, the office stated, "It would be unreasonable to conclude that the investigation was conducted with a predetermined outcome," indicating that this case differs in nature from the Deutsche Motors investigation.
Furthermore, the special prosecutor's office has investigated officials from the Ministry of Land regarding allegations of changes to the Seoul-Yangpyeong Expressway route, and plans to summon officials from the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's Transition Committee and former Deputy Minister of Land Baek Won-guk for questioning this week.
The investigation into the deceased marine case is also ongoing, with inquiries continuing against former Presidential Office Civil Service Ethics Secretary Lee Si-won and others.
Legal experts note that with the investigation deadline extended to July 24, the special prosecutor's office is likely to enter a phase of organizing the facts of major cases before determining the scope of charges and applicable allegations. In particular, the direction of the case regarding the Joint Chiefs of Staff's alleged involvement in insurrection, designated as the first recognized investigation, and the applicable charges against related individuals are expected to become key issues in the upcoming insurrection trial.
During a regular briefing on the same day, the special prosecutor's office did not provide specific comments on the direction of the first recognized investigation or applicable charges against former President Yoon. However, considering that supplementary investigations into the Joint Chiefs of Staff leadership and major insurrection cases are nearing completion, it is possible that they are concurrently reviewing the scope of charges and legal principles internally.
In the legal community, there is a prevailing view that the special prosecutor's office is examining the possibility of applying charges of rebellion leader at this stage, focusing on the relationship with existing insurrection charges, the potential for charges based on the same factual circumstances, and overall prosecution strategy.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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