Minister Lee Juho and Former Security Chief Park Jongjun Appear Before Special Investigation Team on Rebellion Case

Minister of Education Lee Juho appeared at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, where the special investigation office for the internal rebellion case is set up, at around 1:50 p.m. on July 4.

Lee Juho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, is attending an investigation at the special investigation office for the internal rebellion case set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 4, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Minister Lee did not respond to questions from reporters such as, "Do you consider yourself a victim whose right to deliberate on martial law at the Cabinet meeting was infringed?", "Is it true that you did not receive any contact before the Cabinet meeting on the emergency martial law?", and "You only attended the Cabinet meeting for the lifting of martial law; who contacted you about that meeting?"

Earlier, the special investigation team notified Deputy Prime Minister Lee and Park Jongjun, former Chief of the Presidential Security Service, to appear at the special investigation office located at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office on the afternoon of July 4. The special investigation team plans to question Deputy Prime Minister Lee about the circumstances of the Cabinet meetings before and after the declaration of emergency martial law. Deputy Prime Minister Lee did not attend the Cabinet meeting held before the martial law was declared on December 3 last year because he did not receive a notification to attend. The special investigation team is examining whether Cabinet members who were not notified to attend were deprived of their right to deliberate on the declaration of martial law, as former President Yoon Sukyeol called only specific Cabinet members to meet the quorum of 11 just before the declaration of martial law.

Park Jongjun, former Chief of the Presidential Security Service, is appearing for questioning at the Special Investigation Office for Internal Insurrection set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 4, 2025. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

Former Chief Park appeared before the special investigation team at around 1:57 p.m. on July 4. When asked, "Former Deputy Chief of the Presidential Security Service Kim Sunghoon claims he was responsible for the secure phone; what is your view on this?" Park replied, "I will provide detailed explanations on various related matters during the investigation process."

The special investigation team plans to question former Chief Park regarding allegations that former President Yoon mobilized the Presidential Security Service to obstruct the execution of an arrest warrant by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. The team is also expected to inquire about the circumstances under which information from the secure phone used by former First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service Hong Jangwon and others was deleted after the martial law incident.