The second special counsel team moved to detain former Office of National Security First Vice Chief Kim Tae-hyo. The move stems from suspicions that he sent messages to the United States and other friendly nations to persuade them of the legitimacy of the Dec. 3 emergency martial law.
On the 7th, the second special counsel team (Special Counsel Kwon Chang-young) requested an arrest warrant from the court for the former vice chief on charges of participating in important duties related to insurrection and abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights. Believing that the former vice chief conveyed messages justifying martial law to key allies, including the United States, through foreign service officials, the team moved to secure his custody.
After the Dec. 3 emergency martial law was declared, the former vice chief is suspected of trying to persuade then U.S. Ambassador to Korea Philip Goldberg of its legitimacy. The special counsel team believes that, at the time, the former vice chief and former Office of National Security Chief Shin Won-sik received instructions from former President Yoon Suk-yeol and relayed messages to the United States and other allies through Office of National Security and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials.
It is also reported that they suspect a similar message was delivered to Donald Trump, who was then U.S. president-elect. However, viewing former chief Shin's level of involvement as relatively minor, they did not seek an arrest warrant.
The special counsel team believes the messages they sent to the United States and other allies included, "This measure is to defend liberal democracy," and, "In response to the National Assembly paralyzing the executive branch through impeachment motions and budget cuts and attempting a de facto destruction of the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea, we took political action within the bounds of the Constitution. President Yoon maintains a stance of opposing pro–North Korea leftists and anti-Americanism."
The special counsel team conducted its first suspect questioning of the former vice chief on May 15. The pre-arrest suspect questioning (substantive warrant review) for the former vice chief is expected to take place this week.