An internal meeting at the Korea Coast Guard during the martial law period has resurfaced as a focal point in the second comprehensive special counsel investigation. After the special counsel investigating the insurrection case declined to indict the Korea Coast Guard over alleged "collusion with martial law," the second comprehensive special counsel moved to take former top Korea Coast Guard leaders into custody.
The second comprehensive special counsel said on the 1st it requested arrest warrants for former Korea Coast Guard Commissioner Kim Jong-uk and former Korea Coast Guard Director General for Planning and Coordination An Seong-sik on charges of aiding an insurrection and abuse of authority. Aiding an insurrection refers to acts of complying with or joining an insurrection even if one does not directly lead its execution.
The focus of the probe is a nationwide video conference of commanders held immediately after martial law was declared. The special counsel believes former Commissioner Kim and others convened the meeting and discussed options such as dispatching Korea Coast Guard investigators if a joint investigation headquarters were formed. The investigation also includes indications that, after the meeting, former Director General for Planning and Coordination An mentioned the possibility of detaining suspects related to martial law and ordered the detention cells to be prepared.
An's personnel trajectory is also under review by the special counsel. A graduate of Chungam High School like former President Yoon Suk-yeol, he was seconded to the Presidential Transition Committee in Mar. 2022 while serving as chief of the Criminal Division at headquarters, becoming the first Korea Coast Guard officer to be seconded there. He was then promoted from senior superintendent to superintendent general in 2023, and again to senior superintendent general last year.
The allegation is a case that once resulted in a decision not to indict. Previously, the special counsel investigating the insurrection case searched and summoned former Director General for Planning and Coordination An but determined the evidence did not substantiate the charges.
However, the second comprehensive special counsel is reexamining whether actions amounting to support for martial law occurred at a meeting attended by Korea Coast Guard executives immediately after martial law, going beyond a mere sharing of the situation. On the 10th, it questioned former Commissioner Kim as a suspect, expanding the probe to include former Korea Coast Guard commissioners.