The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and police are moving to establish a joint special investigation unit to address remaining allegations related to the December 3 martial law, despite two previous special prosecutor investigations led by Special Prosecutors Cho Eun-seok and Kwon Chang-young. This initiative aims to clarify unresolved facts and accountability regarding cases that were not concluded by the special prosecutors.
According to legal sources on November 5, the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and police are discussing the staffing and operational location for the establishment of a 'Martial Law Special Investigation Unit.' They are considering sending one representative from each agency to jointly lead the unit. However, the specifics of the joint operation and command structure have yet to be finalized.
The proposed unit is intended to investigate not only the remaining cases related to the martial law but also all incidents associated with the emergency martial law. Although investigations have been conducted by both the martial law special prosecutor and the comprehensive special prosecutor, there are still cases requiring further verification.
The need for this joint unit arises from concerns that the limited duration of the special prosecutor investigations may not allow for a thorough examination of all related allegations. In August, Special Prosecutor Kwon Chang-young suggested the establishment of a permanent special investigation unit involving multiple investigative agencies, emphasizing the necessity for a systematic and long-term investigation beyond the individual special prosecutor's time constraints.
Thus, the current discussions focus on how to investigate the remaining cases after the conclusion of the special prosecutor's work. Just because these matters have been previously investigated does not mean that all lingering allegations have been resolved, nor does it imply that the necessity for further investigation has been negated. If follow-up investigations occur, it will be essential to substantiate the remaining allegations with concrete evidence.
For the investigative personnel, candidates include a director-level official from the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and Police Commissioner Kang Il-gu. The Serious Crimes Investigation Agency is considering dispatching an official of that rank, while discussions are ongoing regarding sending Commissioner Kang as the unit's leader.
Commissioner Kang has led a dedicated investigation team for remaining cases after the dissolution of the police special investigation unit that handled the three major special prosecutor cases, including the martial law and the Kim Geon-hee case. While the possibility of a joint leadership structure involving both the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency and Commissioner Kang is being explored, the final selection of leadership and operational format has not yet been determined.
The location for the unit's establishment is also under discussion. Given that the internal facilities of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, which was launched last month, are not yet completed, there is speculation that the unit may be set up in police facilities or a separate location. Both agencies are coordinating personnel and location details to finalize the structure of the special investigation unit.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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