The second comprehensive special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, is narrowing its investigation into former President Yoon Suk Yeol ahead of his first face-to-face questioning scheduled for June 6. The special prosecutor is summoning key figures involved in the emergency martial law declared on December 3 and the relocation of the presidential residence, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, and former Chief of Staff Kim Dae-ki, to clarify the facts surrounding the allegations and determine what charges to apply against the former president.
According to legal sources, the special prosecutor summoned both Kim and Lee as suspects for questioning on June 4. Kim faces allegations of rebellion and organizing a criminal group under military law, while Lee is accused of abuse of power. On the same day, Kim Dae-ki also underwent additional questioning.
The focus of the special prosecutor's investigation is the upcoming questioning of former President Yoon, who is accused of directing the National Security Office and the National Intelligence Service to justify the martial law to allied countries, including the United States, immediately after its declaration (abuse of power). Initially, the special prosecutor considered making Yoon's appearance public but opted for a closed summons due to objections from his legal team.
Legal experts believe this investigation will extend beyond merely confirming the allegations regarding the justification of martial law. The trajectory of the special prosecutor's investigation suggests a focus on reconstructing the entire command structure of the emergency martial law, with Yoon at its center.
In fact, the special prosecutor is investigating Kim Yong-hyun under the charge of rebellion under military law. They believe that Yoon, Kim, and military leaders colluded to deploy armed forces to the National Assembly and the Election Commission. They are also examining evidence that suggests the formation of a so-called 'Second Investigation Division' alongside former Army Intelligence Commander Roh Sang-won to seize control of the Election Commission.
The special prosecutor has also applied the same rebellion charges to former Special Warfare Command Chief Kwak Jong-geun and former Capital Defense Command Chief Lee Jin-woo, expanding the investigation to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The special prosecutor has classified the allegations related to the Joint Chiefs of Staff as a 'first recognized case' and has charged former Chairman Kim Myung-soo and other leaders with serious offenses related to insurrection.
There is speculation within and outside the legal community that the special prosecutor aims to establish a 'three-tier command structure' linking Yoon, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and field commanders. This involves not only confirming that troops were deployed to the National Assembly and the Election Commission but also identifying who issued the orders, how they were communicated, and how they were executed.
Amid allegations that some units did not follow normal command and control procedures during the martial law, the special prosecutor is also reportedly reviewing related facts. The necessity of examining whether the military command and control system (C4I) was operational during the emergency martial law and the routes of troop movements has been raised in this context.
The investigation into the relocation of the presidential residence is also directed at Yoon. The special prosecutor is investigating the circumstances under which 2.8 billion won was illegally diverted from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's budget during the 2022 relocation process, questioning whether the presidential office requested or pressured for the budget diversion and examining allegations that civil servants who opposed the diversion faced personnel disadvantages.
Further questioning of Yoon is anticipated. The special prosecutor plans to summon former National Intelligence Service Deputy Director Hong Jang-won on June 11 to clarify the circumstances surrounding the delivery of the martial law justification messages. They have recently indicated that evidence suggests preparations for the emergency martial law were ongoing for an extended period.
Attention is focused on how far the special prosecutor can pursue charges against Yoon. Currently, the publicized allegations involve abuse of power, but the special prosecutor is also investigating the possibility of charging Yoon with being the leader of rebellion under military law. Legal experts suggest that the scope of charges could expand depending on the testimonies and evidence obtained.
Whether the rebellion charges applied to Kim Yong-hyun, Kwak, Lee, and others can be linked to Yoon will likely be a pivotal point in the ongoing investigation. Yoon's first summons is expected to mark the beginning of the comprehensive special prosecutor's investigation reaching its peak.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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