According to Odaily, the National Investigation Headquarters of the South Korean National Police Agency announced today that it will not form a joint investigation team with the prosecution to probe the emergency martial law incident. The police assert that, under relevant laws, only they have the authority to investigate charges of insurrection.
On the morning of the 8th, the National Investigation Headquarters conducted a search and seizure operation at the residence and office of Kim Yong-hyun, the former Minister of Defense, who is a central figure in the emergency martial law incident. Following the 2021 adjustments to the investigative powers between the police and prosecution in South Korea, the agency that first applies for and obtains a search and seizure warrant gains the upper hand in the investigation.
However, Kim Yong-hyun has already been urgently detained by the prosecution, and his mobile phone has been confiscated. This situation suggests that without the prosecution's cooperation, the South Korean police may face challenges in advancing their investigation into Kim Yong-hyun. Currently, the prosecution is investigating Kim Yong-hyun and Yoon Seok-youl on suspicion of abuse of power.