Jangwon Hong: "Almost at the Final Stage... Also Regretful" [Current Affairs Show]

"Cho Taeyong Detained": Former NIS Deputy Director Jangwon Hong Reveals Inner Feelings
Expresses Complex Emotions Watching His Former Superior Taken Into Custody

■ Broadcast: The Asia Business Daily 'So Jongseop's Current Affairs Show' (Monday to Friday, 4-5 PM)

■ Host: Political Specialist So Jongseop ■ Director: PD Ma Yena

Former President Seokyeol Yoon, who was re-arrested by the special investigation team on rebellion charges in July, did not appear in court for some time. Despite repeated attempts by the special prosecutor to bring him in, he resisted strongly and ignored about 16 requests to appear. Yoon's attitude changed after former Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jonggeun appeared as a witness on the 30th of last month. Former President Yoon attended the court in person and actively participated in the trial by conducting direct examinations. This change in attitude continued on the 13th, when Jangwon Hong, former First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service, appeared as a witness.

Jangwon Hong, former First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service, appeared as a witness and spoke at the continuation trial of former President Seokyeol Yoon on charges of leading a rebellion and abuse of authority obstruction of rights, held on the 13th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Provided by Seoul Central District Court, Yonhap News Agency. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

From Yoon's perspective, both Kwak Jonggeun and Jangwon Hong are witnesses who 'spoke with him directly and are giving testimony unfavorable to him.' Former Commander Kwak testified that he received an order to "remove the members of the National Assembly," while former Deputy Director Hong stated that he was ordered to "arrest everyone, including Jaemyung Lee and Donghun Han." It is presumed that former President Yoon actively challenged their credibility in order to gain an advantage in the trial. Yoon's legal team claims this is a "fabricated impeachment plot," while Kwak Jonggeun and Jangwon Hong counter that this is "nonsense." The core issue in Yoon's trial is what testimony these two provide and how the court accepts it.

In this context, it is notable that the court recognized the credibility of former Deputy Director Hong's testimony and detained former National Intelligence Service Director Cho Taeyong on the 12th. All along, former Deputy Director Hong has consistently testified, "There was a plan to arrest politicians during last year's martial law. I reported it to former Director Cho, but he took no action." Former Director Cho was detained on charges of dereliction of duty for failing to report the plan to arrest politicians to the National Assembly Intelligence Committee despite being aware of it, violating the National Intelligence Service Act's prohibition on political involvement by submitting NIS CCTV footage to the then-ruling party, and perjury for claiming there was no report from Hong on the plan to arrest politicians.
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At the trial on the 13th, Yoon's legal team challenged the credibility of the "Jangwon Hong memo" and launched an offensive. Former President Yoon commented on the memo presented by the special prosecutor, saying, "The draft looks like a worm (scribble). The draft itself is not similar to this (the Jangwon Hong memo)." Former Deputy Director Hong testified, "I clearly remember being told strongly to 'arrest everyone and settle things,' 'the NIS will be given counterespionage investigative authority,' and 'support the Defense Counterintelligence Command.'"

On the 12th, right after former Director Cho was detained, former Deputy Director Hong told The Asia Business Daily, "It seems the investigation is almost coming to an end. In some ways, I feel sorry." From Hong's perspective, seeing former NIS Director Cho, whom he once served, being detained, he expressed his complex feelings as 'regret.'