Hong Jang-won, the former Deputy Chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), who gained attention as a whistleblower during the December 3 martial law, appeared before the special investigation team to face charges of insurrection involvement.
On May 22, the special investigation team summoned Hong to its office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, to investigate his alleged significant role in insurrection-related tasks.
According to the special investigation team, Hong is accused of being deeply involved in efforts to promote the legitimacy of the martial law by contacting foreign intelligence agencies, including the CIA, immediately after the declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024.
The team previously obtained a "foreign explanation document" during an April raid on the NIS. This document was prepared to explain the background of the martial law to foreign entities, and it is understood that the National Security Office sent a Korean-language version of the document to the NIS the day after the martial law was declared, requesting overseas promotion.
Subsequently, the overseas department under Hong translated the document into English under the direction of former NIS Chief Cho Tae-yong and reportedly explained its contents directly to CIA officials.
Contrary to the investigation's findings, Hong has completely denied the allegations. Speaking to reporters, he stated, "I have never received any orders from former Chief Cho to deliver a message. Consider whether it was even possible for him to give me such orders at that time."
Regarding the document secured by the special investigation team, he added, "I cannot specify what it refers to, so I do not know. I was suddenly summoned and do not understand the context, so I will go in and find out."
A graduate of the Army Academy, Hong served as a company commander in the 707th Special Mission Battalion under the Army Special Warfare Command. He was specially recruited by the predecessor of the NIS, the National Safety Planning Agency, in 1992 and worked as an NIS agent for approximately 32 years until he was dismissed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol for opposing the martial law in December 2024.
Hong is known to have worked as a black agent (operational agent) at the NIS, primarily focusing on North Korea-related operations. He was the first black agent to rise to the position of Deputy Chief of the NIS due to his contributions in rebuilding human intelligence in areas where many casualties occurred, which black agents were reluctant to support.
After the martial law was declared, Hong gained widespread recognition as a whistleblower during the investigation and impeachment proceedings. He testified before the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly, alleging that he received orders from former President Yoon to arrest politicians, which he reported to Cho, but claimed that Cho intentionally ignored it.
Following this, the insurrection special investigation team successfully indicted Cho on charges of dereliction of duty based on Hong's statements.
However, there are concerns within the legal community that the comprehensive special investigation team's decision to charge Hong with insurrection involvement may negatively impact future investigations and trials.
Meanwhile, the comprehensive special investigation team is also investigating Lee Seung-oh, the former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Operations, as a suspect in connection with insurrection-related tasks.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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