Special Prosecutor Investigates MOJ Security Director as Reference in Park Sung-jae Detention Review Case

The Special Prosecutor Team for Insurrection and Treason, led by Cho Eun-seok, summoned Yang Won-dong, then the Security Director of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and now Director of Correctional Planning at the Korea Correctional Service, as a reference in connection with the declaration of Martial Law on December 3. The investigation aims to determine whether former Minister Park Sung-jae ordered the review of available detention space and additional capacity at correctional facilities.
According to legal sources on the 29th, the special prosecutor's team began questioning Yang as a reference witness from the morning.
The team is reportedly verifying whether Park issued such orders, what was reported, and how the Korea Correctional Service's status documents were prepared. The Security Division is responsible for managing inmate detention, custody, treatment, and release.
The special prosecutor suspects that Park, during a MOJ executive meeting at the time of the December 3 Martial Law declaration, instructed the Korea Correctional Service to review detention capacity and secure additional space. During a recent investigation, the team discovered that a document indicating 'capacity for 3,600 martial law-related detainees' had been deleted. This document was reportedly submitted to Park via the Security Division.
The special prosecutor is focusing on allegations that Park attempted to parole criminals to secure detention space despite the absence of wartime conditions. The team plans to supplement the investigation and reapply for an arrest warrant.

kyu0705@fnnews.com Kim Dong-gyu Reporter