The Comprehensive Special Investigation Team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, has summoned Jo Sung-hyun, the former commander of the 1st Security Brigade of the Army Capital Defense Command, as the first suspect in a rebellion case. Previously, the Rebellion Special Investigation Team, led by Special Prosecutor Jo Eun-seok, had decided not to pursue charges against Jo.
The Comprehensive Special Investigation Team began questioning Jo as a suspect for important duties in rebellion at 10 a.m. on July 10. This marks the first time Jo has appeared before the Comprehensive Special Investigation Team.
Jo arrived at the special prosecutor's office at 9:42 a.m. He stated, "I am surprised, but I will testify truthfully and speak well." When asked about his intent behind saying 'we will conduct operations' during a conversation with former Defense Security Command Chief Lee Jin-woo, he explained, "It was something like personnel matters in the military."
Jo is accused of involvement in the rebellion by relaying orders from Lee to deploy troops from the 2nd Special Operations Battalion and the 35th Special Operations Battalion to the National Assembly during the martial law declared on December 3.
The investigation team is particularly focused on Jo's statement to the troops waiting at the Seogang Bridge, where he instructed them, "Leave firearms and blank rounds in the vehicles and take riot sticks for deployment. The mission is to remove personnel from inside the National Assembly." The Comprehensive Special Investigation Team believes that issuing orders to subordinate units based on Lee's directive to remove lawmakers constitutes participation in rebellion.
In contrast, the Rebellion Special Investigation Team, which conducted the earlier investigation, had concluded that Jo's passive response to Lee's orders, ultimately rejecting them as unconstitutional and illegal, warranted a decision not to pursue charges. Jo was even awarded the Order of National Security Merit for his actions, which were deemed commendable.
As the allegations against Jo have led to differing views between the Rebellion Special Investigation Team and the Comprehensive Special Investigation Team, there is growing interest in the outcome of the ongoing investigation. The Comprehensive Special Investigation Team is expected to closely examine how Jo received orders from Lee and how he communicated them to his subordinates.
Meanwhile, the Comprehensive Special Investigation Team has also summoned former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung for further questioning. Shim is under investigation for allegedly considering sending prosecutors to the Joint Investigation Headquarters of the Martial Law Command after the declaration of martial law. At that time, Shim reportedly had three phone conversations with former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, during which the dispatch of prosecutors was discussed, raising suspicions among investigators.
Additionally, Shim is also implicated in allegations of attempting to suppress investigations related to Kim Geon-hee's stock manipulation case involving Deutsche Motors and the Dior bag incident.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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