Comprehensive Special Counsel Team Visits Detention Center to Interrogate Kim Yong-hyun Over 'Noh Sang-won Notebook'

The 2nd Comprehensive Special Counsel Team led by Kwon Chang-young, which is investigating remaining cases following the three major special counsels (insurrection, Kim Keon-hee, and the deceased Marine), has begun a visit and interrogation of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun regarding the so-called 'Noh Sang-won notebook'.

The special counsel team has been questioning former Minister Kim, who is being held at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center, in the status of a suspect for preparing and conspiring to commit murder for the purpose of insurrection starting around 9:00 a.m. today (July 28).

Former Minister Kim is suspected of plotting to round up and murder opposition figures, including key politicians, together with former Defense Intelligence Agency Commander Noh Sang-won while planning and preparing for the December 3 emergency martial law.

Former Commander Noh wrote down the names of targets for 'Class A' roundups in his notebook, including President Lee Jae-myung, former President Moon Jae-in, former Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su, and former Supreme Court Justice Kwon Soon-il.

He also wrote handling measures for them, stating "Establish a collection facility on Yeonpyeong Island" and "Relocate to Yeonpyeong Island to raise security awareness".

The special counsel team plans to interrogate former Minister Kim to determine whether the contents written in former Commander Noh's notebook went beyond mere ideas and involved actual directives or reports regarding planning and preparation.

The special counsel team previously attempted to summon and question former Minister Kim on the 19th, but it fell through after former Minister Kim's side refused to comply.

Earlier, Cho Eun-seok's special counsel team on the insurrection also viewed this notebook as key evidence of the insurrection plan and attempted to uncover the truth, but failed to clarify the specific background of its creation as former Commander Noh maintained silence.

Former Commander Noh has refused to make relevant statements during special counsel investigations and court trials, maintaining his stance that it was "merely a note of simple ideas."

The comprehensive special counsel team that took over the case identified a detention facility within the Marine Corps Yeonpyeong Unit as the 'collection facility' through an on-site inspection, but is reportedly still facing difficulties in proving the charges as former Commander Noh is uncooperative.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.