The investigation into allegations of obstructing the vote to lift martial law is intensifying. On the 2nd, Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok’s team conducted a search and seizure at the home of Choo Kyung-ho, the former floor leader of the People’s Power Party. This is the first time the special prosecutor has taken compulsory investigation actions against the former floor leader regarding these allegations.
The special prosecutor’s team sent prosecutors and investigators to Choo’s residence in Gangnam, Seoul, on the morning of that day to start securing related materials. Choo is suspected of having impeded lawmakers’ participation in the vote by repeatedly changing the location of the emergency assembly of party members from the National Assembly to party headquarters and back.
At the time, 90 out of the 108 People’s Power Party members were unable to participate in the vote. Controversy arose when it was later confirmed that Choo had contacted former President Yoon Suk-yeol on December 1 and 3 of last year.
The special prosecutor has so far investigated several individuals as witnesses, including Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly, and People’s Power Party lawmakers Cho Kyung-tae and Kim Ye-ji. On the 21st of the previous month, they conducted a search and seizure at the National Assembly Secretariat to obtain CCTV footage of the relevant circumstances. In the search and seizure warrant, the special prosecutor designated Choo as a suspect.
Once the analysis of the seized materials is complete, the special prosecutor plans to summon Choo for questioning. Choo’s side has completely denied the allegations, claiming they were unaware of the martial law in advance and did not discuss related issues with former President Yoon.