The insurrection special counsel said on the 16th that there was no violation of the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) during the search and seizure at Osan Air Base.
Deputy Special Counsel Park Ji-young said at a press briefing that day, "The special counsel's search and seizure at Osan Air Base was conducted under the Criminal Procedure Act, and I reiterate that there was no violation of the SOFA agreement between Korea and the United States."
Earlier, the insurrection special counsel searched and seized the Korea Air Force's Master Control and Reporting Center (MCRC) inside the Osan U.S. military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Jul. 21 to investigate last year's foreign exchange allegations, including the "deployment of a Pyongyang drone."
In connection with this, United States Forces Korea recently sent a diplomatic letter expressing a protest to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, requesting "an explanation of why the SOFA was not observed."
Regarding this, Deputy Special Counsel Park said, "At the time, the special counsel's investigator received prior approval from the Korean military officer with entry-approval authority under a memorandum of understanding between Korea and the United States, was issued an entry pass, and entered areas used by the Korean military under strict control and guidance by the Korean military," adding, "In areas used and managed by the Korean military, the investigator presented a search and seizure warrant issued by a judge and, based on that, executed the warrant by mutual agreement with the consent of the responsible Korean military officer."
Park continued, "As for materials collected by Korean military reconnaissance asset, the Korean military official conducted a security review and then submitted them voluntarily, which we seized," adding, "There was no search activity conducted at any other location."
In addition, Deputy Special Counsel Park said that day, "In the investigation of former President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 15th, we asked all the prepared questions," adding, "We will not summon him again."
Earlier, on the 15th, the special counsel summoned the former president as a suspect on foreign exchange charges and questioned him for about 8 hours and 30 minutes. Seoul Detention Center sought to execute an arrest warrant issued by the court on the 1st, but the execution did not take place after the former president expressed his intention to appear voluntarily.
Deputy Special Counsel Park said, "While (the former president) refused to answer individual questions and asked that they not be recorded in the protocol, I understand that he still said what he wanted to say," adding, "I believe it was an investigation to confirm his stance on the foreign exchange charges."
In response to a reporter's question about the timing of an indictment, Deputy Special Counsel Park said, "There are many sensitive issues, so we are thoroughly cross-checking the facts of the crime and the evidentiary relationships," adding, "An indictment does not immediately follow the end of questioning. We are doing the work to wrap things up."