Jung Jinseok Questioned for the First Time in 'Martial Law Evidence Concealment' Case...Kim Sangmin Taken into Custody

Jung Jinseok Questioned from 10 a.m.
Suspected of Ordering President's Office Computer Reset
Kim Sangmin Detained Over Concerns of Evidence Destruction
Alleged Solicitation for Nomination in Last Year's General Election
Delivered Artwork Worth 140 Million Won to Kim Keonhee
Insurrection and First Lady Special Prosecutor Teams
Plan to Track Links to Other Suspicions

The special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok, which is investigating allegations of insurrection and treason related to the illegal 12·3 Martial Law, summoned former Presidential Chief of Staff Jung Jinseok as a reference witness for questioning on the 18th. This marks the first time that Jung has appeared before the special prosecutor's team, which is expected to focus its questioning on suspicions that evidence related to martial law was concealed.

Jung Jinseok, Chief of Staff to the President, is speaking at the full meeting of the Steering Committee held at the National Assembly on the 1st. This Steering Committee meeting marked the first attendance of President's Office aides, including Chief of Staff Jung Jinseok, since the opening of the 22nd National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyunmin kimhyun81@

According to the legal community on the 18th, the special prosecutor's team began questioning Jung as a reference witness from 10 a.m. that day. Jung has been identified as someone who communicated directly with former President Yoon Sukyeol during the events surrounding the illegal 12·3 Martial Law. Although Jung was not a cabinet member, he attended the cabinet meeting held before the declaration of martial law together with Shin Wonsik, then Director of the National Security Office. Before the cabinet meeting to lift martial law, Jung also visited the Joint Chiefs of Staff's Combat Control Room to meet with former President Yoon in person while he was staying there.

Jung is suspected of being involved in the systematic concealment of martial law evidence by the highest levels of the President's Office. The special prosecutor's team suspects that the complete initialization of the President's Office computers in April was carried out under Jung's approval and direction. The investigation may expand in this direction following Jung's questioning.

'Kim Sangmin Arrested on Charges of Soliciting Nomination from Kim Keonhee...Special Prosecutor Accelerates Investigation'

The special prosecutor team led by Min Jungki is also working to secure key figures. Former prosecutor Kim Sangmin, considered a central figure in the alleged nomination intervention by First Lady Kim Keonhee, was arrested early in the morning. Judge Park Jungho, head of the warrant division at the Seoul Central District Court, held a warrant review the previous day and issued an arrest warrant for Kim, citing concerns about the destruction of evidence regarding his alleged violation of the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.

Yonhap News Agency

The special prosecutor's team believes that Kim delivered a work by artist Lee Ufan worth approximately 140 million won (about 100,000 USD) to the First Lady's side in exchange for a nomination in last year's general election. Although the investigation initially focused on the alleged nomination intervention, the case has expanded to include suspicions of bribery after allegations surfaced that Kim had delivered the painting. The arrest warrant specifies the First Lady as the recipient of the artwork. Kim is also accused of having a businessperson pay for the rental of a campaign vehicle during the election preparation process.

With the special prosecutor's team securing custody of key figures such as Assemblyman Kwon Seongdong and former prosecutor Kim, there are expectations that cross-verification of political and financial solicitation allegations involving the political establishment and the Unification Church will bring the investigation closer to uncovering the truth behind both the First Lady's alleged nomination intervention and the Unification Church's illegal political funding.

The previous day, in connection with suspicions of collusion between religion and politics, the special prosecutor's team summoned Han Hakja, President of the Unification Church, for the first time and questioned her for about nine hours. The team is expected to soon decide whether to request an arrest warrant for Han, who is accused of giving 100 million won (about 70,000 USD) in illegal political funds to Assemblyman Kwon and delivering an expensive necklace to the First Lady in exchange for help with church-related issues. On the same day, the team also secured the custody of a Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport official surnamed Kim in connection with the alleged route change of the Yangpyeong Expressway.

The special prosecutor teams investigating the insurrection and the First Lady's alleged misconduct plan to broaden the scope of their investigations to track links to other suspicions not specified in the indictments. The direction and subjects of the expanded investigations are expected to have a significant impact on the political landscape.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.