Hong Jang-won, former Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), appears at the Kwon Chang-young 2nd Comprehensive Special Prosecutor's Office in Gwacheon on the 22nd to be investigated as a suspect in connection with allegations of 'delivering messages to justify martial law.' [Yonhap News]

The Kwon Chang-young 2nd Comprehensive Special Prosecutor's team, which is investigating lingering suspicions after the third special prosecution, summoned Hong Jang-won, former Deputy Director of the NIS, for the third time on the 22nd and investigated him for nearly 10 hours.

The special prosecutor's team summoned former Deputy Director Hong as a suspect on charges of engaging in important duties for rebellion at around 10 a.m. on the day to confirm his whereabouts before and after the declaration of martial law on December 12-13 and the decision-making process within the NIS.

Former Deputy Director Hong is accused of contacting U.S. intelligence agencies after former President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, attempting to convey a message intended to justify the martial law.

Previously, the special prosecutor's team stated that during the investigation of NIS officials, they found evidence that the NIS received a document written in Korean from the National Security Office the morning after the martial law was declared, with a request to 'explain the background of the martial law to friendly countries.'

Subsequently, under the instructions of former NIS Director Cho Tae-yong, the overseas affairs department under the Deputy Director summoned the head of the CIA in Korea to the NIS to explain the intent of the document. The special prosecutor's investigation revealed that former Deputy Director Hong was briefed on and approved this entire process.

Former Deputy Director Hong's side claims that they do not recall the situation and that even if such an event occurred, it was not in a formal reporting format.

The special prosecutor's team also suspects that former Deputy Director Hong convened a meeting of department heads under the Deputy Director on the day of the martial law declaration to establish communication channels with the Military Counter-Intelligence Command and discussed support for the joint investigation headquarters of the martial law command.

It is reported that the special prosecutor's team found expressions suspected of involvement in martial law in the work diaries of employees who attended the meeting at the time, which were secured during the NIS search and seizure.

In response, former Deputy Director Hong dismissed the claim, stating, "The word 'joint' from the joint investigation headquarters was never even mentioned."

The special prosecutor's team summoned former Deputy Director Hong as a suspect on May 22nd and June 11th as well, investigating him for approximately 9 hours on each occasion.

The special prosecutor's team plans to conclude the investigation by summoning former Deputy Director Hong for a fourth time on the 26th.

Previously, in relation to the 'suspicion of messages to justify martial law,' the special prosecutor's team had also summoned Kim Tae-hyo, former Deputy Director of the National Security Office, twice as a suspect last month.

It is reported that the special prosecutor's team is considering requesting an arrest warrant for former Deputy Director Kim.

Kim Myung-soo, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appears at the Kwon Chang-young 2nd Comprehensive Special Prosecutor's Office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 22nd to undergo questioning as a suspect on charges including engaging in important duties for rebellion, and answers reporters' questions. [Yonhap News]

The special prosecutor's team also summoned and investigated Kim Myung-soo, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the same day. This was the first investigation since the arrest warrant requested by the special prosecutor's team on June 15th was dismissed by the court.

Former Chairman Kim is accused of participating in the rebellion by observing the deployment of troops to the National Assembly and other locations from the Joint Chiefs of Staff's command and control center at the time of the declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, without preventing it, and by participating in the formation of the martial law command.

The special prosecutor's team suspects that former Chairman Kim, who held military command authority, failed to take appropriate measures despite recognizing the illegality of the declaration of martial law and the deployment of troops to the National Assembly.

Former Chairman Kim's side has consistently denied the charges, stating that the Minister of National Defense directly commanded and controlled the martial law troops upon declaration of martial law, and that the Chairman was excluded from the decision-making process and thus unable to exercise command over the martial law troops.

Upon arriving at the investigation room on the day, former Chairman Kim said, "My philosophy and convictions remain unchanged, as they have been, and I will explain myself based on facts and truth."