Counterintelligence Commander Requests Police Agency to Confirm 'Politician Locations' Immediately After Martial Law Declaration

Mention of 'Election Commission Relocation Planned'

It has been reported that immediately after the declaration of martial law on the 3rd, General Yeoinhyeong, Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Counterintelligence Command, requested Police Commissioner Jo Ji-ho to identify the locations of politicians.

President Yoon awards the Samjeong Sword Badge to Lieutenant General Yeo In-hyung, Commander of the ROK Army Counterintelligence Command. Photo by Yonhap News

According to materials submitted by the police on the 6th to Yang Bu-nam, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, General Ye called Commissioner Jo between 10:30 and 10:40 p.m. on the 3rd, right after President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law.

Yang’s office stated that during the call, General Ye requested location information of key figures including politicians. However, the police reportedly decided that Commissioner Jo’s confirmation of politicians’ location information required legal judgment and therefore took no separate action.

Police Chief Jo Ji-ho is speaking at the plenary meeting of the Administrative Safety Committee held on the 5th at the National Assembly to question the circumstances surrounding President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration and lifting of martial law. Photo by Yonhap News

Additionally, General Ye mentioned the possibility of forming a joint investigation headquarters and requested support from investigators, also indicating plans to move towards the National Election Commission.

On the same day, Hong Jang-won, First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service, claimed in a meeting with Shin Sung-beom, Chairman of the Intelligence Committee, that "(at the time of martial law) General Ye said, 'The arrest team has been dispatched but their whereabouts are unknown,' and called out a list of targets for arrest, requesting location tracking for their capture." The targets reportedly included Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly; Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party; Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea; Cho Guk, leader of the Cho Guk Innovation Party; and YouTuber Kim Eo-jun.