On the emergency martial law of Dec. 3, Korean National Police Agency Commissioner Jo Ji-ho said, 'If we don't do as ordered, we will be arrested. Do as instructed,' a police officer testified in court on the 7th.
On that day, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, headed by Director General Ji Gwi-yeon, held a public trial regarding the charges of significant responsibilities in the national rebellion against Commissioner Jo and former Seoul Korean National Police Agency Administrator Kim Bong-sik, former Director General of Investigation Planning and Coordination Yoon Seung-young, and former Chief of the National Assembly's Security Corps Mok Hyun-tae.
Also, Director General Lim Jeong-joo of the Korean National Police Agency Security Bureau appeared as a witness. It is reported that Director General Lim received an order from Commissioner Jo at around 11:35 p.m. on Dec. 3 last year, when the martial law was declared, to 'fully control access to the National Assembly according to the order' and conveyed this to then-First Deputy Commissioner Oh Bu-myung of the Seoul Korean National Police Agency.
When Jo's attorney asked, 'Did the witness clearly hear Commissioner Jo say, 'If we don't do as ordered, we will be arrested. Do as instructed'?', Director General Lim responded, 'I remember clearly. It was indeed stated, “We could be arrested.”'
Additionally, Director General Lim was among the police officers who gathered in Commissioner Jo's office just after the declaration of martial law. When former Director General of Investigation Planning and Coordination Yoon Seung-young's attorney asked, 'Have you ever heard expressions like “Lee Jae-myung” or “Han Dong-hoon” mentioned in the conversation between Commissioner Jo and former Director General Yoon?,' Director General Lim said, 'Not at all. Those are very special words, and if I had heard them, I would have remembered, but I do not recall.'
Meanwhile, the prosecution told Director General Lim, 'The witness testified during the previous prosecution statement that Commissioner Jo said while watching the martial law troops on TV, “They are late,”' and asked, 'Is it true that he expressed that the troops were late?' To this, Director General Lim stated, 'There was such a nuance,' adding, 'Hearing that made me think that Commissioner Jo knew something.'