The special investigation unit of the police, investigating the Dec. 3 martial law incident, urgently arrested information commander Mun Sang-ho and former information commander No Sang-won on the 15th.
The police special investigation unit noted that the individuals were arrested urgently on charges of treason. Commander Mun and others are accused of ordering troop deployments to the central election management committee on the day martial law was declared.
The police special unit considers it possible that commander Mun either knew in advance about the martial law or conspired beforehand since troops arrived at the election committee within two minutes of the declaration.
Currently a civilian, former commander No is suspected of having ties with the jailed former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun and allegedly participated as a 'secret' in preparing for martial law. The Democratic Party of Korea asserted that No may have drafted the proclamation's preliminary version or discussed 'additional operations' with former Minister Kim even after martial law was lifted.
After securing the arrest of the two individuals, the police will decide whether to apply for an arrest warrant following further investigations. If arrested, a warrant must be requested within 48 hours.
The police special unit confirmed that approximately 1,500 soldiers, including ordinary servicemen, were mobilized for this martial law and stated that they investigated 43 active-duty soldiers, including Army Chief of Staff Bak An-su and commander Mun. It was reported that the special unit has not yet applied for arrest warrants for any military-related personnel. The prosecutors' special investigation headquarters for martial law requested an arrest warrant for Army Chief of Staff Bak on charges of engaging in important tasks related to rebellion and abuse of power.
The martial law involved the mobilization of soldiers from the Ministry of National Defense, Army Headquarters, Capital Defense Command, Special Warfare Command, Counterintelligence Command, and Intelligence Command, including general servicemen. The number of soldiers may increase in further investigations.
On the 13th, the special unit additionally booked five individuals: Kim Hyun-tae, 707th Special Mission Unit Commander; Lee Sang-hyun, 1st Airborne Brigade Commander; Kim Jung-geun, 3rd Airborne Brigade Commander; Kim Se-woon, Special Operations Aviation Group Commander; and Kim Chang-hak, Military Police Group Commander. Previously, the special unit booked four individuals: former Counterintelligence Commander Ye In-hyeong, former Capital Defense Command Commander Lee Jin-woo, former Martial Law Commander Bak An-su, and former Special Warfare Commander Gwak Jong-geun.