Special Investigation Unit Conducts Third Interrogation of Kim Yong-hyun Without Exercise of Right to Silence
Investigation Speed Increases for Military Leaders Including Former Martial Law Commander Park An-su
On December 9th, the special investigation unit led by Prosecutor Park Se-hyun at the Seoul High Prosecutor’s Office is conducting a third interrogation of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, without him exercising his right to remain silent. The unit plans to request an arrest warrant for the former minister later in the day.
The special investigation unit summoned former Minister Kim to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office for more questioning starting from 10 a.m. on the same day. The unit had urgently arrested him on the morning of the 8th around 7 a.m. By law, a decision on whether to request an arrest warrant must be made within 48 hours of such an arrest. The plan is to submit a request for the warrant late in the afternoon after the morning’s investigation.
Prosecutors are intensively questioning Kim, having concluded the previous session after about seven hours at approximately 12:20 a.m. on the 9th. They are reportedly asking why Kim suggested a declaration of martial law to President Yoon Seok-youl, whether he directly ordered martial law troops to intervene in the National Assembly and the National Election Commission, and if he instructed that lawmakers be removed from the main assembly hall.
Further, it has been identified that Kim replaced his phone immediately after the martial law was declared, raising questions about the whereabouts of the phone he used at the time of declaration. Kim reportedly did not exercise the right to remain silent and explained his charges.
Kim is said to have acknowledged recommending the declaration of martial law to President Yoon and directing, based on the edict, that troops enter the National Assembly. However, he maintained that there were no illegal or unconstitutional elements in the declaration process.
The special investigation unit is also expediting its investigation into high-ranking military officials. Former Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, who served as martial law commander, was summoned as a witness and released after concluding his testimony around 2 a.m. on that day. Prosecutors questioned Park about the details surrounding the announcement of the first martial law edict, command of martial law troops, and discussions with Police Chief Cho Ji-ho regarding controlling parliament.
During an emergency inquiry at the parliamentary defense committee on December 5th, Park claimed ignorance about martial law troops being deployed to the National Assembly and whether counterintelligence “arrest teams” entered. He also expressed that he wasn’t aware of the troops entering the National Election Commission or targeting the YouTube channel ‘News Factory,’ operated by broadcaster Kim Eo-jun. However, he denied accepting Major General Kwak Jong-geun’s proposal to use blank cartridges and tasers.
The investigation further extends to other key figures such as Lt. Gen. Jeong Jin-pal, former vice joint chief of staff, Col. Lee Sang-hyeon, paratrooper brigade commander involved in the assembly deployment, and Col. Kim Chang-hak from the Capital Defense Command’s military police. Future inquiries are expected for former Defense Security Command chief Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyeong, ex-Capital Defense Commander Gen. Lee Jin-woo, and former Special Warfare Command leader Gen. Kwak Jong-geun, who are considered central figures.