Police Special Investigation Unit Conducts Second Search at Joint Chiefs of Staff... Joint Investigation Headquarters' 'First Operation' (Comprehensive)

Ministry of National Defense and Search of 'Kim Yonghyun Security Phone'

The police have launched a second forced investigation by the Joint Chiefs of Staff related to the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident.' This marks the first operation since the launch of the Joint Investigation Headquarters (Joint Headquarters).

Officials from the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency are moving boxes of seized items and forensic equipment. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 12th, the Special Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency sent investigators to the Presidential Office building around 2 p.m. to secure additional materials related to the emergency martial law incident.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff building is located within the Presidential Office grounds. During the emergency martial law, the Martial Law Command Situation Room operated in the basement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Special Investigation Unit began a search and seizure of security phones and related servers used by the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters and former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun.

The Special Investigation Unit attempted search and seizure operations at four locations the previous day: the State Council meeting room inside the Presidential Office, the Presidential Security Service, the 101st Security Group, and the control command room in the basement of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. However, the Presidential Security Service refused entry citing official and military secrets, resulting in failure to gain access.

Earlier, the National Police Agency announced that the National Investigation Headquarters, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office, and the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters agreed to operate the Joint Headquarters. The Joint Investigation Headquarters aims to leverage each agency's strengths?such as the investigative experience and capabilities of the National Investigation Headquarters, the legal expertise and warrant application authority of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office, and the military expertise of the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters?to cooperate organically and resolve confusion and inefficiencies caused by overlapping investigations.