Ex-NIS Chief, 5 Others Booked on Insurrection Charges Over Martial Law Plan

SEOUL, May 18 (Yonhap) -- Cho Tae-yong, former chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), and five other former political appointees at the spy agency have been booked on charges of involvement in an insurrection related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law, a special counsel team said Monday.

The six, including former NIS deputy director Hong Jang-won, are accused of performing key duties related to the alleged insurrection, according to the second comprehensive special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young.

"The special counsel team executed a search warrant against the NIS last month and questioned about 40 officials," Assistant Special Counsel Kim Ji-mi said in a media briefing.

"In the process, it was discovered that Cho convened meetings of NIS political appointees and department heads after meeting Yoon," she said.

The special counsel team has reportedly uncovered indications that the NIS contacted U.S. intelligence agencies after Yoon declared martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, in an attempt to deliver a message justifying the emergency measure.

Cho has been detained since his arrest and indictment in November on charges of neglecting his duties by failing to report the martial law plan to the National Assembly in advance.

Cho was asked to appear before Kwon's team Tuesday but refused, according to investigators. Hong has reportedly been asked to come to the team Friday for questioning.

In a related move, Kwon's team raided former Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo's home and office last month on suspicion that he explained the legitimacy of martial law to major allies through the foreign ministry. Kim again appeared before investigators as a suspect Monday after being questioned Friday.