Gongjobon "Refusal to Cooperate with Search Warrant for Presidential Security Service"

For Military Secrets and Other Reasons... No Voluntary Submission Either

The Joint Investigation Headquarters (Joint Headquarters) investigating the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident' announced on the 18th that the Presidential Security Service expressed refusal to allow a search and seizure.

According to the Joint Headquarters, the Security Service stated around 4:50 p.m. that day through a "Refusal Statement" "We cannot cooperate with the search and seizure warrant due to military secrets and official duties." This time, no voluntary submission of materials was made either.

The Joint Headquarters obtained a search and seizure warrant to secure communication records from the confidential phone of Police Chief Jo Ji-ho stored on the Security Service's server. On the day of the martial law, Chief Jo made six calls to President Yoon Seok-yeol using the confidential phone.

The confidential phone is issued and managed by the Security Service. It is a secure mobile phone equipped with programs to prevent wiretapping and call recording, and the related server data is a key clue in the investigation.

On the 11th, the Joint Headquarters attempted to conduct a search and seizure at the Yongsan Presidential Office and the Joint Staff Headquarters, but the Security Service refused entry to the building citing official and military secrets. At that time, only some materials were received through voluntary submission.

The Joint Headquarters is an investigative consultative body composed of the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters.