The second comprehensive special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young, which is investigating remaining allegations following the three major special probes, has sought an arrest warrant for Kang Ho-pil, former commander of the Army's Ground Operations Command, on charges of playing a key role in an insurrection.
According to legal circles on the 11th, the special counsel team requested the arrest warrant for Kang the previous day. The pre-detention suspect questioning is scheduled to be held at the Seoul Central District Court on the 13th.
Kang is suspected of taking part in the martial law by involving himself in setting up an internal situation room within the Ground Operations Command after the declaration of emergency martial law, and by ordering the mobilization of a crisis response team and all officers of the command.
The Ground Operations Command, which Kang led, mobilized the crisis response team through a voice broadcast system at 10:36 p.m. on December 3, 2024, immediately after former President Yoon Suk-yeol declared emergency martial law.
Kang also faces allegations that he participated in related discussions even before martial law was executed. Yeo In-hyung, former commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, is known to have written memos referring to the commanders of the Ground Operations Command, the Special Warfare Command, the Capital Defense Command and the Counterintelligence Command by the abbreviation "ㅈㅌㅅㅂ," stating "The four are prepared," "The enemy's action must come first. A situation must arise in wartime or one that cannot be controlled by police force," and "I advise seizing the opportunity."
Of these, all except Kang — Kwak Jong-keun, former commander of the Special Warfare Command; Lee Jin-woo, former commander of the Capital Defense Command; and Yeo In-hyung, former commander of the Counterintelligence Command — are standing trial on charges of playing a key role in an insurrection. Kang has maintained his position that he was not aware of the emergency martial law in advance and had no involvement in its execution, denying the charges.
