▲ Kim Ji-mi, an assistant to special counsel Kwon Chang-young, speaks during a media briefing at her office in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, on May 26, 2026. (Yonhap)

ex-fire agency chief-special counsel

Ex-fire agency chief booked over alleged involvement in insurrection

SEOUL, May 26 (Yonhap) -- A former National Fire Agency (NFA) chief has been booked on suspicion of performing key duties in alleged insurrection related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law, a special counsel team said Tuesday.

Investigators began questioning former NFA Commissioner Heo Suk-gon as a suspect at 2 p.m. over his alleged involvement in former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min's attempt to cut off power and water to media outlets critical of Yoon following the former president's declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, the second comprehensive special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young said.

Heo is accused of receiving instructions from Lee to cooperate with police in cutting off power and water to the Hankyoreh and Kyunghang Shinmun newspapers, as well as broadcasters MBC and JTBC, and then relaying the instructions to his deputy, Lee Young-pal.

Last year, special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team indicted Lee on charges of ordering utility cutoffs at media outlets but decided not to indict Heo, citing the circumstances and consequences of his alleged offense.

But Kwon's team launched a new investigation into Heo, saying legal punishment is necessary for him as he allegedly engaged in important duties related the alleged insurrection.

The team also said it is considering additional investigations into Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, over allegations that he was involved in the agency's attempt to deliver a message justifying Yoon's martial law to U.S. intelligence agencies. Hong appeared at Kwon's office last Friday for questioning over the allegations.

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