On Wednesday, the second comprehensive special investigation team, led by special prosecutor Kwon Chang-young, summoned former Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won for the first time. This team is tasked with investigating remaining suspicions following three major special investigations into allegations of insurrection, the Kim Keon Hee scandal, and the deceased Marines incident.
The special investigation team began questioning Noh, who is under suspicion of organizing a criminal group, at 10:00 a.m. (Korean time) on the same day.
Noh is accused of forming an unofficial organization called Investigation Unit 2 under the joint investigation headquarters. This allegedly occurred during a meeting at a burger restaurant prior to the December 3 martial law declaration.
He has been indicted for allegedly selecting 46 elite agents from the intelligence agency to form Investigation Unit 2. The unit’s purported purpose was to investigate allegations of election fraud from September to December 2024. Noh is also accused of extracting these agents’ personal information.
The appellate court, specifically the Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court, presided over by judges Lee Seung-han, Park Jeong-woon, and Yoo Je-min, stated in its ruling that the purpose of selecting these agents was to investigate the Central Election Management Commission during a potential period of martial law.
The court further criticized Noh’s actions as unconstitutional and illegal. It noted that he prepared troop compositions for a potential martial law declaration without fulfilling the necessary substantive requirements.
The court upheld the original judgment that the formation of this investigation team was also unconstitutional and illegal. Consequently, Noh received the same sentence as in the first trial: two years in prison.
Noh has since filed a notice of appeal against this decision.
Previously, the comprehensive special investigation team also charged Noh, former Intelligence Commander Moon Sang-ho, former Intelligence Business Unit Head Jeong Seong-wook, and former Central Newspaper Head Kim Bong-kyu with organizing a criminal group.
Today, the special investigation team is expected to question Noh about the background and purpose of forming Investigation Unit 2.
Article 114 of the Criminal Act, which defines the crime of organizing a criminal group, states: Anyone who organizes a group or collective for the purpose of committing a crime punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for a term of four years or more, or who joins or acts as a member of such a group, shall be punished according to the penalty prescribed for the intended crime.
