The Special Prosecutor's Office led by Kwon Chang-young has begun investigating several high-ranking officials from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) for their alleged roles in a rebellion related to the emergency state declared on December 3. Among those charged is former JCS Chairman Kim Myung-soo, who, along with others, is accused of participating in crucial acts of rebellion after the emergency declaration. Special Prosecutor Kim Ji-mi announced in a briefing that these officials have been barred from leaving the country as the investigations progress and that witness interviews will commence shortly.

The allegations suggest that these JCS officials were aware of military operations being conducted against the National Assembly and yet contributed to the establishment of the emergency command. Notably, the Defense Ministry had already dismissed former Vice Chairman Jeong Jin-pal and former Operations officer Lee Seung-oh due to their involvement in the emergency declaration's illegitimate actions, while former Support commander Kang Dong-gil received a one-month suspension. This situation has raised significant concerns about the chain of command and accountability within the military during potential constitutional violations.

Additionally, the prosecutor's office is reviewing charges under the Military Penal Code against Kim Myung-soo that pertain to his failure to take necessary actions to prevent these alleged illegal military activities. The involvement of former President Yoon Seok-youl and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun during this extraordinary military situation raises further questions about the extent of military control and legality during emergency powers, marking this investigation as a critical point in evaluating the balance of power between military and civilian leadership in South Korea.