Administrator Cho Ji-ho of the Korean National Police Agency and Administrator Kim Bong-sik of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency were handed over to the prosecution on the 20th following their arrest on charges of involvement in the Dec. 3 martial law incident.
The special investigation team of the National Investigation Headquarters announced on the 20th that Administrators Cho and Kim were transferred to the prosecution on charges of engaging in critical duties related to rebellion under the Criminal Act. The two were urgently arrested by the police in the early hours of the 11th.
Administrator Kim, detained at the Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul, is expected to be moved to a detention center after being transferred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office. However, Administrator Cho, who has been hospitalized at the police hospital due to deteriorating health from leukemia since the 14th, is expected to remain there for the time being. The schedule for detention center accommodation has not yet been set.
According to the police, the two administrators testified that on the 3rd at around 7 p.m., ahead of the martial law announcement, they met with President Yoon Suk-yeol at the presidential residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and received an A4 document labeled 'domination agency.' However, Administrator Cho stated that the document was torn up at the official residence, and Administrator Kim said, “There is no document.” The police viewed this as evidence of destruction circumstances and specified it as a reason for applying for an arrest warrant.
They also face charges of blocking access to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers and others from heading to the National Assembly to vote on the lifting of martial law, ordering full access control to the National Assembly at the time of the declaration of martial law.
The special investigation team noted, “Regarding the other police officers dispatched to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission on the day of martial law, it has been determined that there is insufficient basis to formally charge them at this time, but further investigation will be conducted to review each individual's actions and make a comprehensive decision on potential charges.”