Special Prosecutor's Team for Insurrection Conducts Nearly 23-Hour Overnight Questioning of Choo Kyung-ho... "No Plans for Additional Summons"

[Financial News] The Special Prosecutor's Team for Insurrection (led by Cho Eun-seok) summoned lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho for questioning that lasted nearly 23 hours.
According to the special prosecutor's team on the 31st, the questioning of Choo, which began around 10 a.m. the previous day, concluded at 9:13 a.m. that day. Choo was summoned as a suspect on charges of participating in important insurrection-related duties and abuse of authority. The questioning itself ended at 9:25 p.m. after about 12 hours, but reviewing the statement record took an unusually long time—about 11 hours.
Assistant Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young explained, "Although Choo did not mention it during the questioning, he wanted to add handwritten notes while reviewing the statement record, so he did. We told him that he could not add content that was not stated during the questioning, but he continued to add notes." Park added that Choo's handwritten additions amounted to about three pages, and the total statement record, including these, reached 171 pages.
She continued, "All questions prepared by the investigation team were covered in this session," and stated, "There appear to be no plans for an additional summons."
Choo is suspected of obstructing the National Assembly's vote to lift martial law during the December 3 emergency by deliberately changing the locations of the People Power Party’s general meeting of lawmakers from the National Assembly to party headquarters, then to the Assembly’s Special Committee on Budget and Accounts room, and back to party headquarters, thereby allegedly participating in the insurrection led by former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Due to Choo's changes to the meeting locations, many People Power Party lawmakers were unable to attend the vote on the resolution to lift martial law. As a result, out of 108 People Power Party lawmakers, 90 did not participate, and the resolution passed with all 190 present lawmakers voting in favor.
Based on the findings from this session, the special prosecutor's team plans to further examine Choo's charges and proceed with procedures such as securing custody in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Act.
The team also intends to continue pre-trial witness examinations for Han Dong-hoon, former leader, and lawmakers Kim Tae-ho, Seo Beom-su, and Kim Yong-tae to secure testimony. This process is used to obtain statements as witnesses in court before trial when investigations by investigative agencies are difficult.
After the questioning, Choo told reporters, "I have thoroughly explained the facts regarding the day martial law was declared," and added, "I urge the administration to stop political oppression and retaliation, and to focus on public livelihood."
Dong-hyuk Jang, Song Eon-seok, and other leaders of the People Power Party greeted former floor leader Choo at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office after the questioning. Jang stated, "Choo Kyung-ho underwent 24 hours of overnight questioning, but soon it will be revealed how meaningless those 24 hours were," adding, "Heaven never forgives those who make others shed tears of injustice."

kyu0705@fnnews.com Kim Dong-gyu Reporter