Two Days Before Martial Law, Counterintelligence Commander’s Memo: "Operation of Anti-State Forces Investigation Headquarters and Military Prison Detention"

Anti-State Forces Investigation Headquarters Discovers Memo on Emergency Martial Law Preparedness Plans Including Joint Arrest Team Operations

[Image source = Prosecution Special Investigation Headquarters]

The prosecution investigating the ‘December 3 Emergency Martial Law’ incident announced reference materials when indicting former Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Counterintelligence Command Yeo In-hyung. These materials contained the preparations made by the military leadership who were in charge before and after the martial law. Former Commander Yeo was planning to form a ‘Counter-State Forces Investigation Headquarters.’ A memo he wrote two days before the martial law included a well-coordinated plan for operating the Counter-State Forces Investigation Headquarters, including the management of detention at the military prison and joint arrest squads.

The Prosecution’s Special Investigation Headquarters for Emergency Martial Law (Head: Park Se-hyun, Chief Prosecutor of Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office) indicted former Commander Yeo on the 31st on charges of engaging in important duties related to rebellion and abuse of authority, explicitly stating these facts in the indictment.

The December 1 memo by former Commander Yeo contained records about the ‘Counter-State Forces Investigation Headquarters.’ It detailed the organization’s outline, including ‘police/investigation headquarters, 30 personnel location tracking, operation of joint arrest squads, Special Forces, security units, security teams operation, Defense Security Command, investigation headquarters, document storage detention facilities, preparation for military prison detention operation,’ and the formation of joint teams. It also included specifics such as ‘Counterintelligence 5, Military Police 5, Police 5, Security 5, totaling 20 personnel per team.’

A memo believed to have been written at 11 a.m. on December 3, the day martial law was declared, contained plans immediately following the proclamation. It stated, ‘All intelligence and investigative agencies such as the National Intelligence Service, police, and investigation headquarters shall follow the orders of the Joint Investigation Headquarters Chief,’ ‘Subordinate units shall act according to the proclamation and operational plans,’ and ‘The Chief of Staff shall receive 100 investigators each from the police and investigation headquarters.’

Additionally, it included that ‘The Joint Investigation Headquarters shall be organized with the Counterintelligence Investigation Unit Chief leading the Counter-State Forces Investigation Headquarters and the First Division Chief leading the Election Fraud/Public Opinion Manipulation Investigation Headquarters, with the Forensic Science Office and Information Protection Unit under the command of the Election Fraud/Public Opinion Manipulation Investigation Headquarters.’

The prosecution detained and indicted former Commander Yeo along with former Capital Defense Command Commander Lee Jin-woo on charges of engaging in important duties related to rebellion and abuse of authority at the Central Military Court on the same day.