Former fire agency chief charged over alleged involvement in Yoon's martial law

Kim Ji-mi, an assistant to special counsel Kwon Chang-young, speaks during a briefing at her office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on May 26. [YONHAP]

A former National Fire Agency chief has been booked on suspicion of performing key duties in an insurrection related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's imposition of martial law, a special counsel team said Tuesday.

Investigators began questioning former 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.

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