Changed Testimonies of Yoon's Confidants... Special Prosecutor's Investigation Gains Momentum

[Financial News] The third special prosecutor's team is securing testimonies from key figures in the Yoon Seok-yeol administration that could serve as a decisive blow in future investigations.
According to the legal community on the 13th, Kim Seong-hun, a former deputy chief of the Presidential Security Service and a staunch loyalist of former President Yoon Seok-yeol, is known to have overturned his previous testimony in a recent investigation by the special prosecutor's team on rebellion.
He had previously denied that former President Yoon instructed him to prevent the execution of an arrest warrant against him, but it is reported that he reversed his testimony during the special prosecutor's investigation, in which Yoon's defense team did not participate, admitting to Yoon's instructions.
Former Deputy Chief Kim was a leading figure in the 'staunch loyalist' group within the security service that took the lead in preventing the execution of an arrest warrant against former President Yoon on two occasions in January by the High-ranking Officials' Crimes Investigation Office.
Kim Tae-hyo, former First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, recently testified for the first time in the investigation of the Marine Corps death special prosecutor that he directly witnessed the so-called 'VIP Fury Theory.' This testimony by former First Deputy Director Kim contradicts what he testified at the National Assembly's Steering Committee a year ago in July.
The 'VIP Fury Theory,' which was previously only hearsay, has now been substantiated by the direct testimony of former First Deputy Director Kim, who attended the meeting at the time.
Meanwhile, former First Deputy Director Kim was a powerful aide and confidant who oversaw diplomatic and security policies closely with President Yoon since his inauguration.
The 'VIP Fury Theory' alleges that President Yoon became 'furious' after receiving a report on the investigation results of the Chae Sang-byeong incident during a presidential office meeting on July 31, 2023, at 11 a.m., and that he reprimanded then-Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop over the phone, delaying the police transfer and altering the investigation results.  
The special prosecutor's team plans to summon and investigate Cho Tae-yong, former Director of the National Intelligence Service, and Lim Ki-hoon, former Defense Secretary, who are known to have participated in the meeting at the time, based on the testimony of former First Deputy Director Kim.   



kyu0705@fnnews.com Dong-kyu Kim, Reporter