South Korean army general and police chief arrested in martial law case

According to Yonhap, on December 13, General Lee Jin-woo, commander of the South Korean capital defense force, was arrested to serve the investigation into the recent martial law order in the country.

The investigation aims to clarify the military's actions in deploying forces at the National Assembly during martial law.

Prosecutors said the arrest was made on suspicion that General Lee might destroy evidence and was a flight risk. He was charged with sedition and abuse of power after refusing to participate in an investigation without justifiable reason.

General Lee is one of three key figures in the military, along with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and Military Intelligence Service chief Yeon In-hyung.

During martial law, he commanded the deployment of special forces and military police into the National Assembly to control the situation.

In a YouTube interview, General Lee said that early in the morning of December 4, President Yoon called to ask about the situation, and he informed him that the situation was very complicated and that it was impossible to move forces.

He also confirmed that the deployed forces were carrying weapons, but later decided to leave the weapons in the vehicle when they saw the large number of people at the scene.

However, media images showed the troops carrying live ammunition, sparking controversy over whether they actually used the weapons. The Ministry of Defense suspended General Lee from his post and banned him from leaving the country.

Prosecutors have searched his home and other places related to the Self-Defense Forces. They are expected to file an arrest warrant for General Lee within the next 48 hours.

On the same day, the Seoul Central District Court also issued arrest warrants for the leaders of the National Police and Seoul Metropolitan Police on charges of playing a key role in a rebellion related to President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief martial law declaration.

Arrest warrants were issued for Cho Ji-ho, commissioner of the National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, on suspicion of destroying evidence.

The arrests came just days after the two leaders were arrested on charges of ordering police to block lawmakers from voting in the National Assembly to overturn President Yoon's martial law decree.

According to reports, Mr. Cho and Mr. Kim met with President Yoon and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun at a presidential safe house about three hours before martial law was declared.

Police suspect that both may have been involved in planning the martial law. Both have now been banned from leaving the country.