On the 18th, the special prosecutor investigating the insurrection summoned former Seoul Fire and Disaster Management Headquarters Deputy Minister Hwang Gi-seok for questioning regarding allegations about former President Yoon Suk-yeol's instructions to cut off electricity and water supply to media outlets.
According to the legal community, the special prosecutor began questioning Deputy Minister Hwang around 2 p.m. that day at the special prosecutor's office in the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho District.
The special prosecutor is reportedly verifying whether Deputy Minister Hwang received any information from the Fire Agency regarding attempts to cut off electricity and water supply to media outlets during the state of emergency.
Earlier, on the 17th, the special prosecutor conducted searches and seizures at nine locations, including the residence of former Minister Lee Sang-min, as well as the Fire Agency, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Sejong Government Complex, the Seoul Fire and Disaster Management Headquarters, and the Security Division of the Seoul Police Agency.
Former Minister Lee is facing allegations of abusing his authority by directing the Fire Agency and police to cut off electricity and water supply to certain media outlets during the emergency. He is said to have made successive phone calls to Police Chief Jo Gi-ho and Fire Agency Commissioner Heo Seok-gon to give his instructions. Deputy Minister Hwang is reported to have received these instructions through Commissioner Heo and Vice Administrator Lee Young-pal.
Additionally, the special prosecutor is expected to summon Yang Mo, who is referred to as 'the unofficial personal secretary' of former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, for questioning that day. The special prosecutor plans to investigate Yang regarding Kim's movements and directives on the day of the emergency declaration, as well as the circumstances surrounding the issuance of encrypted phones the day before the declaration.
Former Minister Kim is reported to have received additional encrypted phones from former Vice Administrator Kim Seong-hoon on December 2 of last year, the day before the emergency declaration, which were then delivered to the Commander of the Army Intelligence Command. Although the encrypted phones were supposed to be issued in Yang's name, they were reportedly issued under the name of the former Vice Administrator due to resistance from personnel managing the phones.
Yang is also accused of disposing of documents related to the emergency declaration under Kim's orders on December 5 of last year, after the emergency declaration.