The Special Investigation Team of the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters expressed regret over reports related to the prosecution's investigation that 50 detectives from Yeongdeungpo Police Station were dispatched to the front of the National Assembly as a 'lawmaker arrest team' during the Dec. 3 martial law situation.
Jeon Chang-hoon, Director of the National Investigation Headquarters, held an unofficial briefing that day and noted regarding such reports, "The police have no such fact," and "expressed deep regret."
On the 19th, the special investigation team of the prosecution conducted a search and seizure of 10 individuals related to the National Police Agency's National Investigation Headquarters, Yeongdeungpo Police Station, and the Ministry of National Defense investigation headquarters, and confiscated the mobile phone of Woo Jong-soo, the head of the National Investigation Headquarters, who was questioned as a witness. They cited suspicions that on the 3rd, right after the declaration of martial law, the National Investigation Headquarters supported the dispatch of 50 detectives from Yeongdeungpo in response to a request from the Defense Security Command to form a 'politician arrest team.'
Director Jeon stated regarding these suspicions and the investigation by the prosecution, "There could be many possibilities as to whether the prosecution is lying or the defensive command is lying." The police acknowledged the fact that they were requested to dispatch 10 detectives as a 'guide team' by the defensive command on the day of the martial law, and that there was a mention of 'arrest' at the time of the request.
However, the police stated that the 10 detectives dispatched from Yeongdeungpo had no recognition of arresting anyone, accordingly did not carry handcuffs, and did not meet the personnel of the defense command. Director Jeon conveyed that "a detective dispatched to the scene testified in the prosecution investigation, 'I didn't even know why I was sent, and if I was told to arrest someone, I would have questioned why.'"
He also acknowledged that about 60 detectives from Yeongdeungpo had gathered in front of the hydrogen charging station at the National Assembly during the martial law, explaining that it was because they heard "the fence at the National Assembly seemed like it would collapse."
Meanwhile, the National Investigation Headquarters announced that day that Woo, along with four others, including Yoon Seung-young, Director of Investigation Planning and Coordination; Jeon Chang-hoon, Director of Investigation Planning; and Lee Hyun-il, Chief of the Investigation Planning Division, filed a complaint with the court against the prosecution's search and seizure. A quasicriminal appeal is a system where the counterpart to a search and seizure by investigative agencies applies for court relief. They were said to have applied to "cancel the disposition due to illegality in the search and seizure." However, it was reported that the quasi-appeal was handled on an individual level by the four people, not as a whole on behalf of the National Investigation Headquarters.