Allegations Against Former Minister Lee Sang-min on Power and Water Cuts, Arrested
Investigation Launched into Former Military Government Members
Special Counsel Targets Lawmakers Suspected of Obstructing Martial Law Termination
Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min was arrested following allegations involving power and water cuts, as part of a broadening investigation led by Special Counsel Cho Eun-seok, focused on suspicions regarding last year’s obstruction of a vote to end martial law. The investigation plans to summon National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik as a witness to scrutinize the events from that period closely.
On the 1st, Chief Judge Jeong Jae-wook of the Seoul Central District Court issued an arrest warrant for the former minister after concluding that there was a risk of evidence tampering and sufficient reason to believe a crime was committed. The pre-arrest hearing started at 2 PM on the 31st and concluded at 5:52 PM.
The special counsel’s team charged Lee with key tasks involvement in rebellion, abuse of power, and perjury, alleging that he instructed the power and water cuts following the martial law declaration last year under former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s orders, relaying these instructions to Fire Commissioner Heo Seok-gon.
With Lee under arrest, the special counsel team can expedite their investigation into lawmakers suspected of obstructing the martial law cessation vote. The team is looking into suspicions that some senior members and leadership of the ruling party at the time, the People Power Party, attempted to prevent the martial law termination at the presidential office’s directive. The team’s spokesperson confirmed the investigation also covers obstruction of legislative procedures concerning the martial law repeal.
In particular, the investigation examines phone communications of former President Yoon on December 3, when he had brief conversations with then-lawmaker Na Kyung-won and former floor leader Chu Kyung-ho, just before a controversial party meeting shift from the National Assembly to party headquarters. This move faced criticism within the party. By early morning on December 4, only 18 of the People’s Power Party members participated in the martial law termination vote during the assembly’s session.
Following Lee’s arrest, the special counsel aims to expand its investigation framework to cover political interference in the vote to repeal martial law and potential conspiracy or abetment of internal disorder by political figures.
To verify the events thoroughly, the special investigation team requested to question Speaker Woo Won-shik as a witness. A Speaker’s office representative stated they are coordinating internally regarding the timing and method of this inquiry. Additionally, the team has asked congressman Ahn Cheol-soo, who opposed the martial law, to testify, but he effectively refused. Chief Investigator Park Ji-young mentioned that no additional summons for Ahn are planned but expressed willingness to conduct interviews if there’s future cooperation.