Former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Cho Tae-yong, accused of violating the National Intelligence Service Act, dereliction of duty, and perjury, enters the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on November 11 to attend a pre-arrest warrant hearing. 2025.11.11 eastsea@yna.co.kr

Former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Cho Tae-yong, accused of dereliction of duty and violating the NIS Act, was arrested on November 12.

Presiding Judge Park Jeong-ho of the Seoul Central District Court issued the arrest warrant the previous day after conducting a pre-arrest warrant hearing for Cho, stating, "There is a concern that evidence may be destroyed."

Earlier, on November 7, the special prosecutor's team led by Cho Eun-seok had requested an arrest warrant for Cho on charges including violation of the NIS Act prohibiting political interference, dereliction of duty, perjury, destruction of evidence, fabrication and use of false official documents, and violation of the Act on Testimony and the Examination of Evidence in Congressional Hearings.

Cho Tae-yong allegedly knew about the plan to declare martial law before former President Yoon Suk-yeol's national address but failed to report it to the National Assembly.

He also reportedly did not inform the National Assembly after receiving a report from former NIS First Deputy Director Hong Jang-won, stating that "martial law forces are hunting Lee Jae-myung and Han Dong-hoon" following the declaration of martial law.

The special prosecutor's team determined that Cho, despite knowing information that significantly impacted national security, failed to fulfill his duty as NIS director to report it immediately to the National Assembly.

Former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Cho Tae-yong, accused of violating the National Intelligence Service Act, dereliction of duty, and perjury, enters the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on November 11 to attend a pre-arrest warrant hearing. 2025.11.11 eastsea@yna.co.kr

Cho is also accused of violating the NIS Act's prohibition on political interference by providing NIS closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showing the movements of former Deputy Director Hong to the People Power Party only, while withholding footage of his own movements from the Democratic Party.

The special prosecutor's team considers the provision of CCTV footage to the People Power Party, knowing their intention to influence the impeachment trial of former President Yoon, while refusing the Democratic Party's request for his own movement footage citing "national security," as political interference.

The charges also include allegedly giving false testimony before the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court, and submitting false written responses to the National Assembly's special committee investigating the facts of the alleged rebellion.

Cho had previously claimed in his testimony and written responses that he did not see documents related to martial law, such as the emergency decree, at the presidential office before the declaration of martial law, and did not see other cabinet members receiving such documents.

However, CCTV footage from the presidential office released later captured cabinet members receiving documents presumed to be related to the emergency decree, and Cho folding a piece of paper into his suit pocket as he left the office.

Cho was also a member of the "Samcheong-dong An-ga meeting" last March and testified as a witness before the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court that former President Yoon did not mention "extraordinary measures" during the meeting. The special prosecutor's team deemed this testimony to be false.

The charge of destruction of evidence, alleging Cho's involvement in deleting information from the secure phones of former President Yoon and former Deputy Director Hong, was also included in the arrest warrant. After former Deputy Director Hong released his call records with former President Yoon, Cho and former Presidential Security Service Director Park Jong-jun had a phone conversation, after which the secure phone records were deleted.

Park Ji-young, a special prosecutor's assistant, briefs reporters at the press room of the High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the special prosecutor's office is located, on the afternoon of August 19. 2025.8.29 mon@yna.co.kr

During the hearing, the special prosecutor's team made a full effort to explain the charges and the necessity of arrest, using a 482-page opinion document and 151 PPT slides.

Cho Tae-yong reportedly denied all charges during the warrant hearing as well. He explained that he was not clearly briefed on the details of the arrest at the time and that the CCTV provision was merely to explain the controversial matter, not with the intention of political interference.

However, it is reported that he partially admitted to the facts regarding the charges of perjury and submitting false written responses concerning not receiving documents during the martial law cabinet meeting.

After reviewing the arguments from both sides, the court ruled in favor of the prosecution by issuing the arrest warrant.

This is the first time since former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min in August that the special prosecutor's team has arrested a key figure from the Yoon Suk-yeol administration in connection with the 'rebellion allegations'.

Although there was a period of pause following the subsequent rejection of arrest warrants for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae, the issuance of this warrant is expected to energize the remaining investigations.

Yonhap News