
In addition to allegations that President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the arrest of prominent politicians upon declaring martial law late in the evening of Dec. 3, 2024, notes found at the home of a Yoon confidant appear to indicate that members of a Catholic priests' group were among those to be "collected" by martial law forces.
MBC reported Monday that the Catholic Priests' Association for Justice was among the civilian targets specified in notes found at the residence of Noh Sang-won, who was then chief of the Defense Intelligence Command. The report went on to say that the individuals "collected" were to be detained at specific areas, possibly at military detention centers.
Police officials at the National Office of Investigation confirmed in December that the notes specified politicians, media members and religious leaders as "subjects to collect," along with plans to induce a North Korean attack at the Northern Limit Line, the de facto maritime border between the Koreas.
The NOI refused to confirm specific content from the notes found at Noh's home.
Local reports said the National Forensic Service, which analyzed the handwriting on the notes, was unable to definitively determine whether they had been written by Noh.
Noh is currently under criminal investigation for his part in Yoon's alleged insurrection.
The arrested president's impeachment is being tried at the Constitutional Court. His separate criminal trial, for insurrection, is set to commence on Feb. 20, while the fifth hearing of his impeachment trial was set for 2 p.m. Tuesday.
The latest hearing will feature former military commanders and the deputy spy chief, who testified to investigators that Yoon ordered the arrest of political bigwigs such as National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik and both the leaders of the ruling and main opposition parties. Yoon has denied issuing such orders, and said his declaration of martial law was meant to serve as a "warning" to the opposition.