Arrest warrants sought for top police officers
National Police Agency Commissioner-General Cho Ji-ho, center, and Kim Bong-sik, left, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, attend a meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Dec. 5. On Cho's right is former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, who resigned on Dec. 8. Yonhap
Investigators have filed arrest warrants for top officials of the national and Seoul police agencies for their roles in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s short-lived attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3, they said Thursday.
Cho Ji-ho, the commissioner-general of the Korean National Police Agency (KNPA), and Kim Bong-sik, the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, were arrested Wednesday under emergency arrest without warrants, and taken into custody at Seoul Namdaemun Police Station.
Under emergency arrest provisions, police have 48 hours to detain and question suspects.
The National Assembly also passed an impeachment motion against Cho on Thursday, suspending him from his duties.
According to the special police investigation team handling the probe, the two are suspected of instructing their subordinates to cordon off the National Assembly compound to block lawmakers from entering parliament in a bid to reverse the martial law decree.
Cho is also suspected of sending police personnel to the National Election Commission to assist the military in carrying out orders issued under martial law.
Additionally, the investigation team confirmed news reports that both Cho and Kim met with Yoon at a safe house in Jongno District, Seoul, three hours before the president declared martial law.
Accompanied by arrested former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Yoon reportedly handed over a piece of paper to Cho to instruct police to occupy several places, including the National Assembly, broadcaster MBC and a polling organization run by liberal YouTuber Kim Ou-joon.
Before the revelation, Cho told lawmakers that he had been unaware of Yoon’s plan in advance.
“I was informed of the martial law declaration following news reports,” he said on Dec. 5.
Rep. Yang Bu-nam of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea criticized Cho’s testimony as false.
Amid the unprecedented leadership vacuum that is causing concerns over public safety, the nation's 140,000 police officers are currently under the command of KNPA Deputy Commissioner-General Lee Ho-young, who convened an emergency meeting of commanders on Wednesday to urge police officers nationwide to remain vigilant about possible crimes.
A policeman of Muan Police Station in South Jeolla Province pickets in front of Jeonnam Provincial Police’s headquarters, Thursday, calling for the impeachment of National Police Agency Commissioner-General Cho Ji-ho. Newsis
However, a policeman of Muan Police Station in South Jeolla Province picketed in front of Jeonnam Provincial Police’s headquarters on Thursday, to express his disappointment at leaders and call for the independence of police from politics.
“The Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s Police Bureau, which has hindered the political neutrality of the police, should be abolished immediately,” the protester said.
Following Interior Minister Lee Sang-min’s resignation on Dec. 8, however, the ministry is also facing a leadership vacuum.
On Dec. 9, another policeman of Masan Dongbu Police Station in South Gyeongsang Province picketed in front of Gyeongnam Provincial Police's headquarters to urge Cho to step down.