Police Raid Special Counsel Office Over Detention‑Space Plans Linked to 2024 Martial Law
Updated (2 articles)
Police Conduct Raid on Cho Eun‑suk’s Office Police conducted a raid on special counsel Cho Eun‑suk’s office in southern Seoul on Jan. 6, 2026, deploying a special investigation team from the Korean National Police Agency [1]. Investigators entered the office to seize data related to detention‑space planning, a focus of the expanding probe into actions taken after the December 2024 martial‑law declaration [1]. The operation followed a prior raid that had already provided the special counsel with documents from former Justice Minister Park Sung‑jae [1].
Documents Sought Relate to Former Minister Park’s Seized Files Police aimed to recover detention‑capacity materials that Cho’s team had previously taken from former Justice Minister Park Sung‑jae [1]. The targeted files allegedly contain information on correctional facility capacity and proposals for creating additional space for detainees [1]. Recovering these documents is intended to preserve core evidence about how detention needs were assessed during the martial‑law period [1].
Investigation Targets Former Correctional Service Head Shin Yong‑hae The raid is part of a broader investigation into Shin Yong‑hae, the former head of the Korea Correctional Service, accused of coordinating detention‑space assessments under Park’s direction [1]. Shin reportedly calculated that the capital area could accommodate an extra 3,600 detainees, a figure central to allegations of pre‑emptive planning for martial‑law enforcement [1]. Special counsel findings indicate Shin ordered subordinates to draft a document on adjusting inmate numbers and parole options to free up space, linking him directly to the alleged scheme [1].
Raid Aims to Preserve Evidence for Ongoing Martial Law Prosecution Authorities state the raid’s purpose is to secure critical documents that tie Ministry of Justice actions to detention‑space planning during the December 2024 episode [1]. The seizure follows the special counsel’s indictment of Park on martial‑law‑related charges and the transfer of Shin’s case to police, marking a shift from internal review to criminal proceedings [1]. Evidence gathered could shape forthcoming charges or prosecutions related to the 2024 martial‑law declaration [1].
Timeline
May 2024 – Telegram messages show ex‑first lady Kim Keon‑hee asks former Justice Minister Park Sung‑jae about the status of investigations into her alleged stock‑manipulation and luxury‑bag scandals, indicating an attempt to influence the probe[2].
Dec 2024 – The South Korean government declares martial law, triggering a coordinated effort to assess and expand detention‑facility capacity in the capital region, a move that later becomes central to criminal investigations[1].
Dec 2, 2025 – Special prosecutors execute a court‑issued warrant at special counsel Cho Eun‑suk’s office, seizing the May 2024 Telegram records and other documents to gather evidence of Kim Keon‑hee’s alleged attempts to silence investigations[2].
Late Dec 2025 – Cho Eun‑suk’s team concludes that former correctional service head Shin Yong‑hae ordered subordinates to draft a plan for adjusting inmate numbers and parole to create space for an additional 3,600 detainees, prompting the indictment of former Justice Minister Park Sung‑jae on martial‑law‑related charges[1].
Jan 6, 2026 – Police raid Cho Eun‑suk’s special counsel office in southern Seoul, seizing detention‑capacity documents previously taken from former minister Park, as part of the ongoing criminal probe into the December 2024 martial‑law episode and related detention‑space planning[1].