The special counsel investigating the insurrection case, which has been probing the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, will announce its final findings on the 15th, wrapping up 180 days of investigation.
According to the special counsel investigating the insurrection case on the 9th, the team plans to complete case handling by the 14th, the last day of the investigation period, and hold a briefing at the special counsel's office in Seocho-dong, Seoul, on the morning of the 15th to explain the progress of the probe and the nature of key cases. At the briefing, Special Counsel Cho is expected to appear in person to summarize and announce the investigation results.
After the special counsel ends, remaining cases will first be transferred to the Korean National Police Agency's National Office of Investigation (NOI). The special counsel said the NOI may then reassign them to the Ministry of National Defense or to other teams with remaining investigation periods, such as the Kim Keon-hee special counsel, depending on the nature and jurisdiction of each matter.
Meanwhile, the special counsel indicted former secretary Yoon and Rep. Lim without detention on charges of abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights and violation of the State Public Officials Act. The special counsel concluded that in Aug. 2023, the two forced improper personnel actions by personnel officers at the Ministry of National Defense and Army Headquarters so that Lt. Col. A, who had been recommended by an acquaintance, could work at the Office of National Security's National Crisis Management Center.
According to the special counsel, after receiving the personnel solicitation related to Lt. Col. A, former secretary Yoon relayed it to the Office for General Affairs for Defense and the National Crisis Management Center, and Rep. Lim, then the second deputy director of the Office of National Security, approved it. The special counsel believes that during this process, former secretary Yoon said in effect that "Lt. Col. A's father is also acquainted with President Yoon."
Immediately after being indicted, Rep. Lim posted on social media and flatly denied the charges. Lim said, "This is coming from someone who has no knowledge of the selection procedures not only for the National Crisis Management Center but also for officers seconded to the presidential office," adding, "I resigned as second deputy director of the Office of National Security on Sept. 27, 2023, and the person in question was assigned in November, more than a month later." The point is that Lim could not have been involved in the recommendation, vetting, or decision process due to timing.
In response, special counsel spokesperson Park Ji-young said at a briefing on the 9th, "The final interview of Lt. Col. A, who is at issue, and the de facto decision to hire this person occurred in September (2023)," adding, "Regarding Rep. Lim's claim that 'I was not on duty during the period in question,' we have secured sufficient evidence and testimony to support the case."
Meanwhile, Cho Tae-yong, director of the Office of National Security, who gave final approval for the hiring of Lt. Col. A, was found in the probe to have been unaware that there had been a related solicitation at the time and was therefore excluded from the special counsel's indictment list.