Ex-Security Aide to Ousted S. Korean President Questioned Over Martial Law Role

SEOUL, May 15 (Yonhap) -- A former senior security aide to ousted former President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared before special prosecutors Friday for questioning over his alleged role in the former president's martial law imposition. Former Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo was questioned by the second comprehensive special counsel team as a suspect over allegations that he engaged in key duties related to an insurrection and abused his authority. Kim is accused of explaining the legitimacy of martial law to major allies through the foreign ministry. He is also under investigation on suspicion that he called then U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg soon after the lifting of martial law on Dec. 4, 2024, to claim it was inevitable to eradicate anti-state forces that had ruined the judicial and administrative systems through legislative dictatorship. The questioning came after the special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young raided Kim's home and office on April 9. Kwon's team also called in former Army chief and martial law commander Park An-su and Kim Dae-ki, Yoon's former chief presidential secretary, on Friday morning to question them about their insurrection and abuse of power allegations, respectively. Park is accused of inciting riots by deploying his subordinate soldiers to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission at the time of the declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024. Kim Dae-ki is accused of being involved in an alleged budget diversion and payment to an unqualified company during the relocation of the presidential residence in 2022. Kwon's team has been investigating allegations that former first lady Kim Keon Hee used her influence to award the presidential residence renovation contract to 21 Gram, an unqualified interior design company that was previously involved in designing and constructing the office of her cultural content company.