Integrated Special Prosecutor Team Visits Detention Center to Question Former Defense Security Command Chief Inhyeong Yeo

The second Integrated Special Prosecutor Team led by Changyoung Kwon has begun investigating former Defense Security Command chief Inhyeong Yeo.

Special Prosecutor Changyoung Kwon is making a statement with deputy special prosecutors at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on February 25. Photo by Yonhap News

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At a regular briefing held at the special prosecutor’s office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on the 27th, Special Deputy Prosecutor Jimi Kim stated, "We are currently visiting and questioning former Commander Yeo at the Seoul Detention Center as a reference witness in connection with the allegations that former Coast Guard Director of Planning and Coordination Seongsik An was involved in insurrection." The special prosecutor team is reportedly seeking to determine whether former Commander Yeo had any discussions related to former Director An.

Former Director An is suspected of being involved in having the internal Defense Security Command regulation, "Plan for Organizing the Martial Law Command," amended to include an automatic dispatch of Coast Guard personnel to the joint investigative headquarters after the declaration of martial law.

The special prosecutor team is also questioning the head of the Crisis Management Center under the National Security Office as a reference witness. This is in relation to allegations that, immediately after the declaration of martial law, the presidential office under President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to deliver a "message justifying martial law" to the United States. The team is investigating suspicions that, under the instruction of former President Yoon, the National Security Office conveyed a message to then U.S. President-elect Donald Trump stating that "martial law was justified," and, after martial law was lifted, sent an official letter in the name of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the U.S. Ambassador to South Korea explaining the legitimacy of martial law. Previously, on the 22nd, the special prosecutor team summoned and questioned former Minister of Foreign Affairs Taeyeol Cho as a reference witness in connection with this matter.

In addition, regarding the "alleged cover-up of the Unification Church investigation," the team announced plans to summon police foreign affairs intelligence officials one after another for questioning later this week. Concerning the prosecution’s "alleged cover-up of the Deutsche Motors investigation," it was reported that two prosecution investigators who participated in questioning First Lady Keonhee Kim at a third-party location were called and questioned as reference witnesses.

Regarding the "alleged relocation of the presidential residence," it was also revealed that search and seizure warrants were executed for two aides to Han Hong Yoon, a lawmaker from the People Power Party. In addition, to determine whether the First Lady was involved in the residence relocation, the team searched the residences of individuals related to Covana Contents and questioned a total of 19 people as reference witnesses.

Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team plans to summon Kim Kwan-young, Governor of North Jeolla Province, as a suspect on charges of abetting insurrection on the 30th, in connection with allegations that he ordered the closure of the North Jeolla Provincial Government building during martial law.

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