Summoning and Investigation of Subordinate of Former GIMUSA Commander Jo Hyun-cheon Who Drafted the 'Martial Law Document'

The prosecution summoned and investigated a direct subordinate of former Defense Security Command Commander Cho Hyun-cheon, who drafted a martial law review document during the impeachment phase of former President Park Geun-hye.

Former Defense Security Command Commander Cho Hyun-cheon, a key figure in the allegations regarding the martial law documents before the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, was escorted to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office after arriving through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the morning of the 29th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the legal community on the 12th, the Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Byung-joo) summoned and investigated So Gang-won, former head of the 3rd Department of the Defense Security Command and a direct subordinate of former Commander Cho, regarding allegations of abuse of authority and political involvement.

Former Commander Cho is accused of interfering in the 2016 election of the chairman of the civilian conservative group Federation of Korean Associations (abuse of authority and obstruction of rights) and mobilizing Defense Security Command agents to hold rallies supporting former President Park (political involvement under the Military Criminal Act).

The prosecution arrested former Commander Cho at Incheon International Airport on the 29th of last month, upon his return from the United States after 5 years and 3 months, and detained him on the 31st on charges of abuse of authority and political involvement.

The prosecution plans to focus its investigative efforts on the core allegation against former Commander Cho concerning the martial law review document. He is suspected of forming a "Martial Law Document Drafting Task Force (TF)" in February 2017, when the impeachment trial of former President Park was underway, ordering the drafting of the martial law review document, and reporting the document to then Minister of National Defense Han Min-gu.

In 2018, the joint military-civilian investigation team that investigated the martial law document allegations suspended the investigation and issued a prosecution suspension order in November of that year after failing to locate former Commander Cho, who was in the United States at the time.

Former Commander Cho was arrested by the prosecution at Incheon International Airport immediately after returning to Korea on the morning of the 29th, 5 years and 3 months after departing for the United States in December 2017.

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