On January 8th, the prosecution is expected to indict Jo Ji-ho, the Commissioner of the National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, the Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, on charges related to conspiracy for martial law in the “December 3 Martial Law” incident. This marks the near completion of investigations into key figures involved in the martial law operation, excluding President Yoon Suk-yeol, who has been designated as a principal instigator. The arrest warrant reissuance for President Yoon by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) draws significant attention as to when it will be executed.
According to legal circles, the Special Investigation Team of the Prosecutor’s Office, headed by Park Se-hyun, Chief Prosecutor at Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, plans to indict the police chiefs Jo and Kim on charges of engaging in significant violent insurrection duties. The two were sent to the prosecution by the National Police Agency’s Special Investigation Team on December 20th of the previous year, after being arrested and detained mid-month.
On December 3rd, both police chiefs reportedly met with President Yoon at a safe house in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, where they received documentation detailing the deployment times and locations for the martial law forces. The indictment against former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun contains details that Jo Ji-ho mobilized riot police that evening and prepared to control entrances to the National Assembly.
The head of the CIO, Oh Dong-un, has announced that a second attempt to execute the arrest warrant for President Yoon is imminent. Despite his previous failure due to resistance from the Presidential Security Service, reports suggest increased police involvement and tactical support will be employed in the second attempt, including considerations for deploying counter-terrorism units and helicopters.
Meanwhile, high-ranking military officials involved in the martial law declaration, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and several commanders, have been sequentially indicted. Noh Sang-won, accused of planning martial law as a civilian, has had his detention extended until January 12th. The arrest and potential indictment of Jo and Kim signify that all major non-presidential figures in the martial law operation will face trial.