Appears as complainant in detention appeal, martial law probe

Former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung appeared before the special counsel team investigating rebellion charges on the 21st as a subject of a complaint.

Shim arrived at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, where the special counsel team's office is located, around 9:54 a.m. that day. He did not respond to questions from reporters, such as "What is your stance on the decision to abandon the immediate appeal against the cancellation of former President Yoon Suk-yeol's detention?" and "Did you receive any instructions from former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to dispatch prosecutors during the emergency martial law?" and proceeded directly to the investigation room.

Earlier, the ruling party and civic groups filed a complaint with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials) in March, accusing Shim of abuse of power and dereliction of duty for not filing an immediate appeal after the cancellation of former President Yoon Suk-yeol's detention. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials determined that the case fell under the special counsel team's investigation scope and transferred it to the team.

Former President Yoon, who was detained and indicted on charges including leading rebellion, requested the court to cancel his detention in March, arguing that the prosecution's indictment occurred after his detention period expired. The court accepted this, ruling that it was reasonable to calculate the extended detention period caused by the substantive review of the arrest warrant in "hours" rather than "days," meaning the prosecution had indicted Yoon after his detention period had expired.

At the time, the investigation team had opinions suggesting that an immediate appeal should be filed to seek a higher court's judgment on the detention cancellation decision. However, after discussions in a meeting of senior prosecutors at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, Shim decided not to appeal, citing potential constitutional issues, and directed Yoon's release.

Shim is also under suspicion of receiving instructions from former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae to dispatch prosecutors to the joint investigation headquarters during the December 3 emergency martial law. There are also allegations that a prosecutor affiliated with the Supreme Prosecutors' Office at the time communicated with the Defense Counterintelligence Command and later dispatched to the National Election Commission.

The special counsel team is expected to verify the facts surrounding these allegations. Earlier, on the 25th of last month, the team searched and seized Shim's mobile phone and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to secure physical evidence clarifying the truth behind the allegations.

Breaking: Former Prosecutor General Shim Faces Rebellion Special Counsel