The second comprehensive special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young has launched an investigation into allegations that former senior officials of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), including former NIS Director Cho Tae-yong and former NIS First Deputy Director Hong Jang-won, were involved in the December 3 emergency martial law declaration.
"We have booked and are investigating six former political appointees of the NIS, including Cho Tae-yong (former NIS Director) and Hong Jang-won (former NIS First Deputy Director), on charges of engaging in key insurrection duties," Assistant Special Counsel Kim Ji-mi said at a briefing held at the special counsel office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Tuesday.
The special counsel team believes that the NIS attempted to contact U.S. intelligence agencies after former President Yoon Suk-yeol's declaration of emergency martial law to convey a message justifying the martial law. The investigation follows last month's execution of a search and seizure warrant on the NIS and the questioning of about 40 officials, during which the team identified circumstances suggesting that Cho convened a meeting of NIS political appointees and a meeting of department heads after meeting with Yoon.
The special counsel team is reportedly investigating whether Hong, who was in charge of overseas affairs, was involved in the NIS's attempts to contact the CIA and deliver a message during the martial law period. Hong is the figure who provided key...
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