Former President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared before the special prosecutor's team led by Kwon Chang-young on June 6, facing allegations of abuse of power related to messages justifying the martial law declared on December 3.
According to Yonhap News, Yoon, who is currently detained at the Seoul Detention Center, arrived at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, at 9:50 a.m. via a Ministry of Justice transport vehicle. He is being investigated as a suspect for obstructing the exercise of authority.
This marks the first interrogation of Yoon as a suspect by the special prosecutor's team, occurring 101 days after the team's establishment on February 25.
Yoon is accused of directing the National Security Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to communicate messages to allied countries, including the United States, asserting that the martial law was justified.
The messages reportedly included statements such as, "This action is to protect liberal democracy," and that "Yoon Suk Yeol maintains a stance against pro-North Korean leftists and anti-Americanism."
Following these directives, the National Security Office requested the National Intelligence Service to explain the background of the martial law to allied nations the day after its declaration, along with Yoon's messages.
Subsequently, under the direction of former National Intelligence Service chief Jo Tae-yong, the agency's overseas department translated the messages into English and briefed officials from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) directly, according to the special prosecutor's findings.
In connection with this investigation, the special prosecutor's team questioned Hong Jang-won, the former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, on May 22, and Jo on June 1, both in the capacity of suspects.
The special prosecutor's team aims to clarify the intent behind the messages justifying martial law and the circumstances surrounding Yoon's directives.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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