Kwon Chang-young’s second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor Team, tasked with probing remaining allegations following three prior special prosecutor investigations (into the insurrection, Kim Geon-hee, and the fallen marines), summoned former Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol as a witness. The team questioned him about allegations that former President Yoon Suk-yeol sought to send messages to allied countries, including the United States, to justify martial law.
On the 22nd, the team said in a press release that it had questioned Cho as a witness about how the presidential office at the time instructed the Foreign Ministry to deliver messages to the U.S. to justify martial law immediately after the Dec. 3 insurrection.
The team said the messages reportedly included lines such as, "This action is to defend liberal democracy," and, "This was a political protest within the bounds of the constitution, taken in response to the National Assembly's attempts—through impeachment motions and budget cuts—to paralyze the executive branch and effectively undermine South Korea’s constitutional order. President Yoon maintains a stance opposing pro-North leftists and anti-Americanism."
The team says Yoon attempted to have the messages delivered through former National Security Office director Shin Won-sik and former first deputy director Kim Tae-hyo.
On the 8th, the team executed search warrants at Kim’s home and his research office.
According to reports, the warrants named Shin and Kim on charges of performing key duties related to the insurrection and of obstructing the exercise of rights through abuse of authority. The warrants also reportedly included abuse-of-power charges against former President Yoon.
