Prosecutors' Office Conducts Business Trip Investigation with Deputy Chief Hong as a Witness
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC), investigating the ‘12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident,’ questioned former National Intelligence Service (NIS) First Deputy Director Hong Jang-won on the 11th.
The PCC's Emergency Martial Law Investigation Task Force (led by Lee Dae-hwan, Head of the Third Investigation Department) conducted the interview-style investigation of former Deputy Director Hong on the same day. This investigation was carried out at the PCC's request.
Former Deputy Director Hong was the first to publicly reveal that there had been orders to arrest political figures, including leaders of ruling and opposition parties, during the previous emergency martial law. On the 6th, he appeared confidentially before the National Assembly Intelligence Committee and stated, “President Yoon gave the order, ‘Take them all in this time. Clean them all up.’” He also disclosed that the list of ‘arrest targets’ he received from former Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung included Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and Woo Won-shik, Speaker of the National Assembly.
On the other hand, Cho Tae-yong, Director of the National Intelligence Service, denied the arrest order for politicians, stating, “I have not received any reports or orders whatsoever,” resulting in a direct contradiction in testimonies. It was recently revealed that President Yoon replaced former Deputy Director Hong on the same day and appointed Oh Ho-ryong, a special advisor, as his successor.
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