The second comprehensive special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young, which is investigating various remaining allegations involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife, will summon and question former National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong as a suspect on Saturday. In addition to Cho, the comprehensive special counsel team plans to question former President Yoon and former Ministers Kim Yong-hyun and Lee Sang-min this week, with the investigation heading into its final stage.
The special counsel team will summon Cho at 10 a.m. on Saturday as a suspect on charges including engagement in important duties of insurrection, in connection with the "martial law justification message allegations." Cho is suspected of attempting to deliver a message to U.S. intelligence agencies explaining the legitimacy of the martial law declaration immediately after former President Yoon declared emergency martial law.
The special counsel team has determined that on the morning of December 4, 2024, the day after the martial law declaration, the Office of National Security delivered an external explanatory document to the NIS along with a request to "explain the background of the martial law to allied nations."
Meanwhile, the comprehensive special counsel team will summon former President Yoon at 10 a.m. on the 6th to question him as a suspect on abuse of authority charges in connection with the martial law justification message allegations. Yoon's side received an initial summons notice late last month but refused to appear, citing trial schedules. After the special counsel team indicated it would consider a forcible arrest if Yoon failed to comply with three summons requests, his voluntary appearance was arranged.
On the 4th, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min will be summoned for questioning.
