The Special Investigation Team for the coup is said to be investigating former Gyeonggi Fire and Disaster Headquarters Chief Jo Seon-ho regarding the allegations of power and water cut orders given to media outlets, and former Ministry of Justice Immigration and Foreigner Policy Deputy Minister Bae Sang-eob regarding the internal situation of the Ministry of Justice after the emergency martial law on Dec. 3. Additionally, it has been reported that the Special Investigation Team confiscated evidence related to the allegations of involvement in the martial law from Acting Seoul Police Chief Park Hyun-soo on the 7th.
The Special Investigation Team is currently questioning former Deputy Minister Jo Seon-ho as a witness. It appears that the investigation will focus on the allegations that former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min directed the Fire Agency to cut off power and water to specific media outlets.
Former Minister Lee is accused of having directed the Fire Agency to implement power and water cut orders for specific media outlets such as MBC, JTBC, Hankyoreh, and Kyunghyang Shinmun on Dec. 3 last year under the orders of former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
The Special Investigation Team requested an arrest warrant for former Minister Lee on charges of participating in essential duties of the coup, abuse of authority, and perjury on the 28th of last month. Director General Jeong Jae-wook of the Seoul Central District Court issued the warrant on the 1st, citing concerns that evidence might be destroyed.
Former Minister Lee stated that "the Special Investigation Team's arrest action is illegal and unfair," and he has requested a review of the arrest warrant. A hearing is scheduled to take place at the Seoul Central District Court at 4:10 p.m. If the court grants his request, he will be released; if denied, his detention will continue.
The Special Investigation Team is also questioning former Deputy Minister Bae Sang-eob as a witness on the same day. It is expected that the team will investigate the internal situation of the Ministry of Justice after the declaration of martial law.
Former Deputy Minister Bae served as the head of the Ministry of Justice Immigration and Foreigner Policy from August last year to April this year, overseeing domestic immigration and residence management policies. He expressed his intention to resign shortly after former Minister Park Sung-jae returned following the dismissal of his impeachment motion.
Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Special Investigation Team searched Acting Police Chief Park Hyun-soo's office the day before (the 7th).
Acting Chief Park is under suspicion of having been involved in the control of the National Assembly on the day martial law was declared on Dec. 3 last year. At that time, Acting Chief Park, who was the Director of the Police Bureau of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, allegedly communicated several times with then-Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min and Police Chief Jo Ji-ho, and contacted the head of the National Assembly barricade, Police Chief Lim Jeong-joo, which led to the police's control of the National Assembly. Acting Chief Park was appointed as Acting Chief of the Seoul Police Agency on Feb. 7 through a personnel decision.
Earlier, the civic group "Military Rights Center" filed a complaint with the National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency against 57 police officials, including Acting Chief Park, on charges of participating in essential duties of the coup and abuse of authority. The case is currently under the jurisdiction of the Special Investigation Team.