Special Prosecutor Team for Insurrection and Treason Nears Completion of 'Treason Allegations' Investigation... "Indictments Expected Next Week"

[Financial News] The Special Prosecutor Team for Insurrection and Treason, led by Cho Eun-seok, is expected to conclude its investigation into last year’s treason allegations surrounding the Republic of Korea Armed Forces' 'Pyongyang UAV infiltration' operation next week.
On the afternoon of the 5th, Park Ji-young, Deputy Special Prosecutor for Insurrection, stated during a regular press briefing held at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, "A decision on whether to indict those involved in the treason allegations will likely be made next week." The special prosecutor team initially planned to indict the suspects last month, but verifying the facts of the alleged crimes took longer than anticipated.
The team suspects that last year’s operation by the ROK Armed Forces to infiltrate a UAV into Pyongyang was an action by former President Yoon Suk Yeol intended to provoke North Korea and create justification for the December 3 Martial Law. However, they have not found evidence that Yoon or others colluded with North Korea in advance. As a result, instead of charging those involved with maintaining treason, the team reportedly applied the more general charge of benefiting the enemy under military law.
To investigate these allegations, the special prosecutor team summoned former President Yoon Suk Yeol, Kim Yong-hyun, Minister of National Defense (MND), Kim Yong-dae, Commander of Drone Operations, and others for questioning.
The team plans to reapply for an arrest warrant for former Minister of Justice (MOJ) Park Sung-jae. Deputy Special Prosecutor Park stated, "We have declared our intention to reapply after the previous warrant was dismissed and are preparing thoroughly," adding, "After analyzing the seized materials, we expect to reapply. It should not be significantly delayed."
Previously, on the 15th of last month, the team requested an arrest warrant for Park Sung-jae, who is accused of participating in a key insurrection mission and abuse of authority. However, the court dismissed the request, citing insufficient grounds for arrest, risk of flight, or evidence destruction.
Following this, on the 23rd of last month, the team conducted additional questioning of Park Sung-jae, carried out further searches of his mobile phone, summoned attendees of a Ministry of Justice Directors-General Meeting convened by Park, and executed additional searches at the MOJ. These efforts focused on strengthening the investigation into how Park became aware of the illegality of martial law.
Regarding the possibility of further questioning Park Sung-jae, Deputy Special Prosecutor Park explained, "Whether additional questioning is necessary will depend on the evidence collected through analysis of the seized materials. At this stage, it is too early to say definitively. If the evidence found during analysis requires clarification from him, we will naturally summon him again."
kyu0705@fnnews.com Kim Dong-gyu Reporter