S. Korea’s Capital Defence Command was strong choice to detain top lawmakers: Source

SEOUL – The team reportedly tasked with arresting top lawmakers following the

short-lived martial law declaration

on Dec 3 considered detaining them at the military command responsible for protecting the capital from external attack, according to a military source.

The source said the military police compound at the Capital Defence Command, in Seoul’s southern Gwanak-gu, was considered to be a strong option for holding the detainees.

Calling for

Mr Yoon Suk Yeol’s suspension on Dec 6

, People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, said he had “credible grounds” to believe the President had ordered the detention of major political figures at a facility in Gwacheon, on the southern edge of Seoul.

It has been widely believed to be referring to the Defence Counterintelligence Command, whose commander is Lieutenant-General Yeo In-hyung.

“But the command does not have such a facility to detain them,” the source said. “There is a facility to investigate, but not detain them.”

Mr Yeo has denied receiving an order to arrest politicians.

The National Police Agency, in a report submitted to the National Assembly on Dec 6, said Mr Yeo asked the police to find the whereabouts of some of the high-profile politicians but that they did not follow through as they considered that such a request would need a review of its legality.

The military source added that the authorities had considered nearby locations to use as detention centres, and the compound at the Capital Defence Command that housed its military police was its preferred choice. The source did not confirm when this decision took place.

Under martial law, the Defence Counterintelligence Command (DCC) chief has the power to detain and investigate persons of interest.

The team directed by the DCC commander this week is alleged to have targeted more than 10 lawmakers and activists, including National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon and Mr Lee Jae-myung, head of the main opposition Democratic Party.

According to the source, the authorities had also considered the wartime B1 Bunker as a location to hold the high-profile figures.

The bunker – also in Gwanak-gu and handled by the Capital Defence Command – is the largest of the three the Korean military operates independently to respond to an attack by North Korea.

That idea did not get much traction, the source added. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK