Police: "Treason is Our Jurisdiction"... Reject Joint Prosecution-Police Investigation Proposal

Prosecutors Immediately Reject Joint Investigation Proposal
"Minister of the Interior Has No Legal Authority to Direct Investigation"

The police investigating the December 3 emergency martial law situation firmly stated that there is no possibility of a joint investigation with the prosecution.

According to the police on the 8th, the National Investigation Headquarters is not considering a joint investigation with the prosecution in relation to the briefing given by Park Se-hyun, head of the Prosecution's Special Investigation Headquarters for Emergency Martial Law, who said, "If the police propose a joint investigation, we are willing to respond at any time." A police official said, "At this point, we are not considering a joint investigation with the prosecution."

On the 4th, the signboard of the National Investigation Headquarters hung at the Seoul Seodaemun-gu Police Agency. From this year, the police organization has been divided into national, autonomous, and investigative police, and with the abolition of the prosecutor's investigation command authority, the police have gained primary investigation termination rights, drawing significant attention to the National Investigation Headquarters overseeing investigations. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The official pointed out, "The crime of rebellion falls under the jurisdiction of the police investigation," and added, "Although the prosecution and military prosecution say they will conduct a joint investigation, the legal basis is weak." He also said, "Since we applied for the search warrant for former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun before the prosecution, we have priority in the investigation," and "At this stage, we must do our best to investigate on our own."

The official also emphasized, "Legally, the only body guaranteed independence to investigate this incident is the police." He explained, "At the time of the emergency martial law declaration, both the Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Interior and Safety attended the Cabinet meeting. The Minister of Justice has investigative command authority over the prosecution, but the Minister of the Interior and Safety does not have legal investigative command authority."

Both the police and prosecution have ministers of their respective departments as subjects of investigation, but the police explained that the structure prevents ministers from intervening in the investigation.