▲ Cho Sung-hyun, former commander of the 1st Security Group of the Capital Defense Command (currently a Colonel)
The second special counsel team, led by Kwon Chang-young, has booked Cho Sung-hyun, former commander of the 1st Security Group of the Army Capital Defense Command (currently a Colonel), as a suspect for engaging in important duties related to insurrection.
Cho is accused of participating in insurrection-related duties by relaying orders from former Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo to his troops to deploy to the National Assembly during the emergency martial law.
It is reported that the special counsel team has secured testimony that, following former Commander Lee's order to "drag out the lawmakers," Cho told his troops, who were waiting at Seogang Bridge on the day of the martial law, that "the mission is to drag out the personnel inside the National Assembly."
However, it is known that around 1:00 AM the following day, Cho instructed his troops to "wait at Seogang Bridge," citing concerns that citizens and his subordinates could be harmed.
The special counsel team is reportedly investigating the case under the view that the charge of engaging in important duties of insurrection can be established solely by Cho's compliance with the initial order to drag out lawmakers.
The special counsel team plans to summon Cho for questioning early next month.
Cho previously testified before the Constitutional Court and other bodies that he had received orders from former Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo to enter the National Assembly and drag out lawmakers, but that he requested a reconsideration and instructed subsequent units not to cross Seogang Bridge and to wait instead.
The Ministry of National Defense awarded Cho the Samil Medal of the Order of National Security Merit in September last year, recognizing his contribution to preventing national chaos by refusing to follow illegal orders and avoiding clashes with citizens. President Lee Jae-myung also visited the Ministry of National Defense's command and control center last March to commend Cho.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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