Special Investigation Unit to Be Formed for '12·3 Emergency Martial Law' Probe
The prosecution formed a special investigation headquarters on the 6th to investigate the ‘12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident’ case.
The Supreme Prosecutors' Office announced on the same day that it would establish a special investigation headquarters headed by Park Se-hyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office. Kim Jong-woo, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, was assigned as the deputy chief prosecutor. Under them, Lee Chan-gyu, Head of the Public Investigation Division 1 at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, and Choi Soon-ho, Head of the Criminal Division 3, each lead one team. The total number of investigative personnel dispatched to the special investigation headquarters has not yet been determined. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office stated, "We will strictly investigate cases related to the emergency martial law by forming the special investigation headquarters."
The prosecution previously formed a special investigation headquarters during the investigation of Choi Seo-won’s (formerly Choi Soon-sil) state affairs manipulation case under the Park Geun-hye administration in 2016. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office deployed about 30 prosecutors at the request of the special investigation headquarters. It was regarded as the largest-scale investigation headquarters ever assembled for a single case, comparable to the former Central Investigation Department (Jungsubu) of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.
The prosecution’s formation of a special investigation headquarters, as during the state affairs manipulation incident, is interpreted as a sign that the emergency martial law incident is considered equally serious and that they intend to focus investigative efforts. Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung also announced on his way home the previous day that the prosecution would conduct direct investigations, stating, "We will proceed with the investigation in accordance with relevant laws, procedures, laws, and principles," and added, "We are reviewing various methods to ensure that the investigation is conducted appropriately."
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