[AK Radio] Jo Jiho, Commissioner of National Police Agency, Emerges as Key Figure in Impeachment Trial

Scheduled to Testify at Constitutional Court on the 20th, Attention on His Statements
Testified to Prosecutors: "Yoon Requested Arrest of Lawmakers"
Focus on Existence of Arrest Target List and Related Process

As the constitutional court's impeachment trial for President Yoon Seok-yeol approaches its conclusion, the testimony of Police Chief Jo Ji-ho, disclosed by the National Assembly, has emerged as a key issue in the impeachment proceedings. With Jo scheduled to attend the 10th hearing of the constitutional court on the 20th, attention is focused on his testimony.

On the 19th, during the 9th hearing, the National Assembly abruptly released the interrogation record of Police Chief Jo Ji-ho as a suspect. According to the disclosed record, Jo testified during the prosecution investigation that on December 3rd of last year, around the time of the martial law declaration, President Yoon made six phone calls strongly demanding the arrest of members of the National Assembly. The record included the president saying, "Arrest all the lawmakers entering the National Assembly. It's illegal." Jo testified that the president's tone at the time felt very urgent.

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Particularly noteworthy is the testimony that there was a specific list of arrest targets. Jo stated that he received a list of 15 arrest targets, including Lee Jae-myung and Woo Won-shik, from Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, and later Han Dong-hoon, former party leader, was added, making a total of 16 names. This aligns with earlier testimony by Hong Jang-won, former 1st Director of the National Intelligence Service, who said, "The president ordered to arrest them all by phone, and then I received a list of 14 names while speaking with Commander Yeo In-hyung."

Important testimony also emerged regarding the lifting of the National Assembly blockade. Jo stated that the lifting of the blockade in the early morning of December 4th was carried out based on recommendations from on-site commanders without direct orders from the president. The on-site commanders proposed that the blockade should be lifted, and this was accepted and decided upon. Afterwards, the president reportedly said, "Thanks to you, it ended quickly," which Jo interpreted as a sarcastic remark and immediately conveyed his intention to resign to Park Hyun-soo, then Director of the Police Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Jo is currently battling blood cancer. The constitutional court has uniquely summoned him as a witness three times so far. This is interpreted as a clear indication of the significance of Jo's testimony in this impeachment trial.

Police Chief Jo Ji-ho is speaking at the plenary meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on December 9 last year. Photo by Yonhap News

At the 10th hearing scheduled for the 20th, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, former 1st Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jang-won, and Police Chief Jo Ji-ho are expected to appear as witnesses. Although the president’s side requested a postponement due to overlapping criminal trial schedules, the constitutional court did not accept it. Instead, the hearing time was delayed by one hour to 3 p.m., allocating two hours per witness, with proceedings continuing until 9 p.m.

Presiding Justice Moon Hyung-bae, Acting Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court, along with other justices, are attending the 9th hearing of President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial held on the 18th at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

The recently disclosed testimony of Police Chief Jo is notable in three main aspects. First, that the president repeatedly requested the arrest of lawmakers during six phone calls; second, that the lifting of the National Assembly blockade occurred without the president’s direct orders; and third, that there was a concrete list of arrest targets. These testimonies are expected to serve as important evidence in clarifying the intent and circumstances surrounding the martial law declaration. Attention is focused on whether Jo will provide the same testimony during his appearance on the 20th as he did during the prosecution investigation.

As things stand, the constitutional court’s ruling on the impeachment trial is expected to be made by mid-next month. However, if Ma Eun-hyuk is appointed as a constitutional court justice candidate, the timing may be delayed somewhat due to the need for renewed hearings.