Evidence of Detention Capacity Document During Martial Law Found
Arrest Warrant Likely to Be Reapplied With Supplemented Charges Against Park Sungjae
On October 24, the special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok, which is investigating the 12·3 Martial Law-related rebellion and treason cases, conducted an additional search and seizure at the Ministry of Justice. This was to track suspicions that former Minister of Justice Park Sungjae had instructed to secure additional detention capacity at correctional facilities.
On the 21st, officials are entering and exiting the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where the Special Investigation Office for the Internal Conflict has been established. 2025.07.21 Photo by Yoon Dongju
According to legal sources, on this day, the special prosecutor team sent prosecutors and investigators to three locations within the Ministry of Justice: the Security Policy Division Director’s Office, the Classification and Assessment Division, and the Classification and Assessment Division Director’s Office, to carry out the search and seizure. This is the second search and seizure conducted by the special prosecutor team at the Ministry of Justice, following the one in August.
The special prosecutor team is reported to have obtained evidence that, during the martial law period, the Correctional Headquarters reported to former Minister Park that “an additional 3,600 people could be accommodated in detention centers in the Seoul metropolitan area.” It is said that the search and seizure on this day was conducted to secure related documents and to confirm the process by which these documents were created and reported at the time martial law was declared.
The special prosecutor team also confirmed that, when former Minister Park asked what measures should be taken in the event of martial law, then-Director of the Correctional Headquarters Shin Yonghae mentioned the “wartime parole system.” The special prosecutor team believes that former Minister Park instructed officials to secure space in correctional facilities and check for additional detention capacity to detain politicians and others who violated the martial law proclamation.
Previously, in connection with these allegations, the special prosecutor team requested an arrest warrant for former Minister Park on October 15, but the court dismissed the request. After an additional summons investigation was completed the previous day, the special prosecutor team is expected to supplement the charges based on materials obtained from the seizure of former Minister Park’s mobile phone and documents from working-level officials at Seoul Detention Center, and then reapply for an arrest warrant.
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