Investigation into martial law scandal suspended

A joint investigation team holds a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday, to announce the interim results of its probe into the military's proposal of a martial law declaration at the end of the Park Geun-hye administration. / Korea Times photo by Shin Sang-soon

By Kang Seung-woo

A joint probe team has suspended its investigation into the military's alleged plan to enforce martial law to suppress candlelit protests at the end of the Park Geun-hye administration, after investigators failed to question a key figure in the scandal who fled.

The independent investigation team, comprised of prosecutors and military personnel, held a press conference in Seoul, Wednesday, and announced it would put its probe on hold until locating and questioning Cho Hyun-chun, a former chief of the now-defunct Defense Security Command (DSC).

The retired Army general, suspected of masterminding the martial law scenario to quell the anti-Park rallies by force last year, is now staying in the United States, refusing to return and face questioning. His scheme included mobilizing tanks and armored vehicles to Gwanghwamun and Yeouido if the Constitutional Court rejected Park's impeachment and public protests became more severe.

“In order to conclude whether the case constitutes a crime, it is essential to investigate Cho, but since he left for the U.S. in December, his whereabouts have still been unclear,” said prosecutor Roh Man-seok, a co-leader of the joint probe team.

Since its launch in July, the investigators have questioned 287 people, including former Defense Ministers Kim Kwan-jin and Han Min-koo, and searched 90 military places, including the defense ministry and the DSC headquarters, but to no avail.

However, Roh said the suspension did not mean Cho is not guilty.

“Although we have postponed indicting Cho, he should be punished for rebellion,” he said, adding that his team is still seeking relevant evidence.

As the envisaged questioning of Cho had fallen through, investigations into others, including former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and former President Park as well as the aforementioned defense chiefs, have been suspended as well, until the former DSC head is taken into custody, the joint investigation team added. Park and Hwang are expected to face possible charges of conspiracy to commit mutiny.

However, the probe team said it has indicted three DSC commissioned officers without physical detention on charges of writing false public documents in order to conceal the martial law plans when the scandal emerged.

The probe team also said it plans to refer former DSC Chief of Staff So Gang-won to the prosecution on charges of violating the military criminal law for further investigation.

Plus, the team plans to cooperate with relevant government bodies, including the foreign ministry and the justice ministry, in order to bring Cho back to Korea.

Last month, the foreign ministry began the process of invalidating Cho's passport and the probe team also requested support from Interpol to locate him.