Former NIS Official Denies Martial Law Accomplice Claims, Cites Previous Acquittals

Hong Jang-won, former deputy director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), has directly refuted allegations that he was an accomplice to martial law during a radio interview. Hong, who is currently under investigation for charges including engaging in important martial law duties, appeared on CBS Radio's "Park Jae-hong's One-Hit Wonder" on August 13.

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I believe I performed my duties as a public servant responsible for national security to prevent the situation created by emergency martial law and illegal rebellion on December 3-5 from escalating into a national crisis. The idea that I am an accomplice to rebellion is difficult to accept.

"I believe I performed my duties as a public servant responsible for national security to prevent the situation created by emergency martial law and illegal rebellion on December 3-5 from escalating into a national crisis," Hong stated. "The idea that I am an accomplice to rebellion is difficult to accept."

The special prosecutor's team, led by Kwon Chang-young, is investigating Hong on suspicion of transmitting pro-martial law messages to allies like the United States and instructing department heads to establish "contact points" with the police and counter-intelligence agencies. Hong countered that previous investigations by four major judicial bodies – the special prosecutor, prosecution, police, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) – had concluded with no charges.

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The investigation by the special prosecutor, prosecution, police, and CIO has concluded with such results (no charges), yet this current comprehensive special investigation is completely overturning those conclusions.

"The investigation by the special prosecutor, prosecution, police, and CIO has concluded with such results (no charges), yet this current comprehensive special investigation is completely overturning those conclusions," Hong said. "I still have doubts and find it difficult to accept whether the comprehensive special investigation team can overturn conclusions based on specific facts that have existed until now."

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I still have doubts and find it difficult to accept whether the comprehensive special investigation team can overturn conclusions based on specific facts that have existed until now.

Hong also expressed a feeling that the comprehensive special investigation team seemed to be "driving towards a certain direction" by repeatedly presenting accusations, even if they were not directly related to him. He specifically addressed the accusation of transmitting pro-martial law messages to the CIA, claiming that then-NIS Director Cho Tae-yong had bypassed him and directly instructed the relevant director. Regarding the establishment of contact points, Hong's side argued that the special prosecutor's team misunderstood the situation, stating he merely instructed a review of counter-intelligence personnel and police dispatched to the NIS's counter-intelligence sharing center, rather than creating new contact points with those agencies regarding martial law.

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I feel that the comprehensive special investigation team seemed to be driving towards a certain direction by repeatedly presenting accusations, even if they were not directly related to me.