[Exclusive] Yeo In-hyeong secured document on 'martial law preparations' in Nov 2023

A special prosecutor's team investigating remaining cases related to three special probes has uncovered evidence suggesting that former Counter-Intelligence Corps Commander Yeo In-hyeong initiated a reorganization of the Joint Investigation Headquarters (JIH) in November 2023, specifically to prepare for martial law. This development has led investigators to consider the possibility that former President Yoon Suk-yeol made the decision to impose martial law more than a year earlier than the December 1, 2024 date recognized in the first-instance court ruling for the alleged leader of sedition case.

The investigation team recently obtained a "JIH Operation Plan" document from the National Intelligence Service. This internal document from the Counter-Intelligence Corps outlines plans for organizing the JIH and managing investigative personnel from related agencies during martial law. While the document was not finalized with final approval, it was reportedly in a complete form and was transferred from the Counter-Intelligence Corps to the NIS for inter-agency cooperation.

Previously, JIH operational plans involved establishing communication networks between the Counter-Intelligence Corps and other agencies like the military police, police, and coast guard during martial law, with each agency operating independently. However, after Yeo In-hyeong's appointment as Counter-Intelligence Corps commander, plans were revised to consolidate investigative personnel from various agencies at the Counter-Intelligence Corps to form joint teams. For instance, in preparation for the joint U.S.-South Korea exercise "Freedom Shield" in March 2024, the Counter-Intelligence Corps considered forming 100 joint teams, each comprising 7-8 members from agencies including the military police, police, and coast guard.

Investigators have gathered testimonies from Counter-Intelligence Corps officials indicating that Yeo In-hyeong directed a revision of the JIH operational concept shortly after taking command in November 2023. Despite internal opposition citing conflicts with existing protocols regarding investigative jurisdiction, Yeo reportedly pushed forward with the reorganization. The investigation team now suspects that Yeo's appointment itself may have been a preparatory step for imposing martial law, raising suspicions that the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's preparations for martial law may have begun even before November 2023.