Hong Jang-won, the first deputy director of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS), testified on Dec. 6 that President Yoon Suk-yeol directed a sweeping crackdown following the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law.
According to Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Rep. Kim Byung-kee, Hong revealed during a National Assembly session that President Yoon contacted him multiple times that day. At 8:22 p.m., Yoon reportedly instructed Hong to “stay alert” for an important discussion in one to two hours. At 10:53 p.m., shortly after martial law was announced, Yoon allegedly called again, saying, “Round them all up. Clean everything up.”
Yoon reportedly assured Hong, “I’ll give the NIS anti-communist investigation authority. For now, assist the Defense Counterintelligence Command (DCC). Provide whatever support is needed—funding, manpower, anything.”
Hong testified that Yeo In-hyeong, head of the DCC, later gave him a list of individuals targeted for arrest. The list reportedly included prominent figures such as:
- DPK leader Lee Jae-myung
- National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik
- People Power Party (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon
- DPK Rep. Kim Min-seok
- DPK floor leader Park Chan-dae
- National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee Chair Jung Chung-rae
- Cho Kuk Innovation Party leader Cho Kuk
- Liberal journalist Kim Ou-joon
- Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Kim Myeong-su
- Kim Min-woong, brother of Rep. Kim Min-seok
- Former National Election Commission (NEC) Chairman Kwon Soon-il
Hong said Yeo also mentioned additional targets, including another NEC member whose name he could not recall and the head of a major labor union, either the Federation of Korean Trade Unions or the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.
Hong reportedly reacted to Yeo’s instructions by thinking, “Yoon’s gone mad,” and stopped taking further notes. According to Rep. Kim, Yeo outlined plans to arrest first- and second-tier targets in phases, detain them at DCC facilities, and conduct investigations.
Hong stated he ended the call with Yeo but was deeply troubled, thinking, “This makes no sense.”
