Hong Reveals "Arrest Orders" at National Assembly and in Court
Jangwon Hong, former First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service, appeared as a witness and spoke at the 5th hearing of President Yoon Sukyeol's impeachment trial held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on February 4, 2025. Photo by Constitutional Court
The special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok, which is investigating the 12·3 Martial Law Incident, has summoned Jangwon Hong, former First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service.
On July 9, the special prosecutor team summoned former Deputy Director Hong as a reference witness to verify the circumstances that occurred after the declaration of martial law on December 3 of last year.
Former Deputy Director Hong previously testified at the National Assembly and elsewhere that he received direct instructions from President Yoon Sukyeol regarding the arrest of politicians during the 12·3 Martial Law. According to Hong, the individuals targeted for arrest included Woo Wonshik, Speaker of the National Assembly; Han Donghoon, former leader of the People Power Party; and Lee Jaemyung, who was then the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea.
Before the launch of the special prosecutor, the Martial Law Special Investigation Headquarters of the prosecution, which was led by Park Sehyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, investigated the 12·3 Martial Law situation. The prosecution concluded that former President Yoon instructed former Deputy Director Hong to "arrest everyone at this opportunity, clear everything up, and since the National Intelligence Service will be given counterespionage investigative authority, first assist and support the Defense Security Command."
The special prosecutor team plans to specifically verify with former Deputy Director Hong the instructions given by former President Yoon after the declaration of martial law.
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