The second comprehensive special prosecutor's team, led by Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, has summoned Shin Won-sik, the former head of the National Security Office, as a suspect in an investigation into allegations of insurrection related to the emergency martial law declared on December 3. The special prosecutor's office is investigating whether former President Yoon Suk Yeol directed Shin to communicate messages justifying the martial law to allied countries, including the United States.
Shin is being questioned as a suspect in connection with important duties during insurrection as of 10 a.m. on June 10.
Arriving at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon at approximately 9:46 a.m., Shin did not respond to reporters' questions about whether he acknowledged transmitting messages justifying the martial law to allied countries, whether he received instructions from former President Yoon, or whether he delivered documents supporting the martial law to the National Intelligence Service.
The special prosecutor's office suspects that immediately after the declaration of martial law, former President Yoon instructed Shin and Kim Tae-hyo, the former first deputy director of the National Security Office, to convey messages explaining the legitimacy of the martial law to allied nations. The investigation suggests that Shin and Kim were involved in disseminating the relevant messages through officials from the National Security Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The messages reportedly included statements such as, "This action is to protect liberal democracy," "It is a response to the paralysis of the executive branch due to impeachment proceedings and budget cuts by the National Assembly," and "Former President Yoon maintains a stance against pro-North Korean leftists and anti-Americanism."
The special prosecutor's office is also looking into the possibility that these messages were communicated to Donald Trump, who was then the President-elect of the United States. However, this has not been publicly confirmed, and the investigation is still ongoing.
The investigation is expanding beyond the National Security Office to include the National Intelligence Service. The special prosecutor's office believes that the National Security Office requested the National Intelligence Service to explain the background of the martial law by delivering documents to allied countries on December 4, 2024.
The special prosecutor's office is investigating whether the overseas department of the National Intelligence Service, under the direction of former NIS Director Jo Tae-yong and former first deputy director Hong Jang-won, translated the documents into English and presented them to the CIA chief in South Korea. It is also looking into whether Hong approved the related reports.
Previously, on June 6, the special prosecutor's office summoned former President Yoon as a suspect in obstruction of official duties. During that investigation, they reportedly questioned him about the circumstances under which the martial law justification messages were communicated to foreign entities and whether there were any directives from the National Security Office.
In contrast, former President Yoon has denied the allegations, stating that he did not give specific instructions to the National Security Office or others, and he has asserted the legality of the martial law.
The special prosecutor's office aims to clarify the communication system for external messages that followed the martial law declaration, involving the National Security Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Intelligence Service, as well as the extent of former President Yoon's involvement. The office plans to summon Hong on June 11 and Jo on June 12, both as suspects in the investigation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.