Final Investigation of Police Commissioner and Seoul Chief... Transfer to Prosecution Tomorrow

Cho Ji-ho, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, who were detained on charges of involvement in the 'December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident,' will be handed over to the prosecution on the 20th.

Cho Ji-ho, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, who is accused of insurrection related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident, is appearing on the 13th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, for a pre-arrest detention hearing. Photo by Cho Yong-jun

According to the Special Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency on the 19th, Commissioners Cho and Kim are undergoing their final police interrogation on charges of engaging in important duties related to rebellion under the Criminal Act. They were detained in the Seoul Seodaemun Police Station detention center after being urgently arrested.

In Cho's case, due to deteriorating health, he was hospitalized at the Police Hospital and was not interrogated after detention; the Special Investigation Unit reportedly conducted a visit investigation.

On the evening of the 3rd, around 7 p.m., just before the announcement of martial law, Commissioners Cho and Kim met President Yoon Seok-yeol at the presidential residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where they received an A4 document listing the agencies to be controlled.

They are accused of ordering a complete ban on access to the National Assembly after the declaration of emergency martial law, blocking lawmakers from entering the National Assembly to vote on lifting the martial law. Commissioner Cho is also accused of ordering personnel assignments to the Central Election Commission.