The Korean National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), and the Ministry of National Defense's Investigation Division have started collaborating in earnest by confirming the personnel assigned to the 'Joint Investigation Headquarters' and establishing an operational approach for the investigation into the 'martial law declaration incident.'
According to the Korean National Police Agency's Emergency Martial Law Special Investigation Team on the 12th, approximately 275 personnel have been assigned to the joint investigation headquarters to probe the martial law declaration incident. The Special Investigation Team, CIO, and Investigation Division decided to collaborate around the joint investigation headquarters without reducing or changing the personnel already investigating the martial law declaration incident. The joint investigation headquarters held its first meeting at 3 p.m. at the Korean National Police Agency in Seodaemun, Seoul, to discuss specific operational coordination plans and cooperation scope.
The personnel breakdown for the joint investigation headquarters is approximately 150 from the Special Investigation Team, 50 from the CIO, and 75 from the Investigation Division. The CIO established the martial law investigation task force (TF) with 8 prosecutors and 20 investigators and is incrementally increasing personnel to 11 prosecutors and 36 investigators. A CIO official noted, "The martial law investigation TF plans to place a maximum of about 50 personnel and this group will also contribute to the joint investigation headquarters."
The joint investigation headquarters will not establish a central investigation office but will have liaison officers in each agency to carry out cooperation. A Special Investigation Team official explained, "This is to enhance the efficiency of cooperation by utilizing the expertise and strengths of each agency."
The police, prosecution, and CIO have been competitively investigating key figures related to the martial law incident, including President Yoon, former Minister Kim Yong-hyun of the Ministry of National Defense, and Chief Jo Ji-ho of the Korean National Police Agency.
The police have emphasized being the only constitutional body with direct investigative authority over rebellion charges due to the adjustment of investigative powers in 2021. The prosecution argues that those central to the martial law scenario also face abuse of authority charges, allowing them to investigate linked rebellion charges. The CIO has requested transfer of martial law-related cases from the prosecution and police.
In this competition for investigative leadership, the prosecution, police, and CIO each filed separate warrants, such as search and seizure warrants, against key suspects. Some of these warrants were dismissed by the court citing 'duplicate investigations.' Concerns over overlapping investigations and inefficiency arose as each agency's competition for investigative dominance became excessive.
The Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office, Korean National Police Agency, and CIO conducted face-to-face negotiations regarding the martial law investigation on the 10th. Although the meeting was convened at the request of the Supreme Public Prosecutors' Office, the prosecution did not join the newly launched joint investigation headquarters due to unresolved differences during the negotiation process.
A Special Investigation Team official stated, "We will utilize the police's investigative authority on rebellion charges at the heart of the martial law incident, the CIO's legal expertise and warrant claims, and the Ministry of National Defense's Investigation Division's military expertise to organically collaborate together," while adding, "This will resolve confusion and inefficiency caused by duplicate investigations."