Police to summon suspect in worst-ever wildfires for questioning
The suspect in his 50s is suspected of causing the fire at 11:24 a.m. on Saturday while performing an ancestral rite at a family grave on a hill in Uiseong County, North Gyeongsang Province.
The fire rapidly spread due to gusty winds amid dry conditions, devastating the region before being fully contained around 5 p.m. Friday.
At least 24 people were killed and 25 others injured in the province alone, with thousands evacuated, according to authorities.
Police completed a preliminary investigation involving his daughter recently, and are drawing up plans to question the man, according to officials.
The accidental starting of a wildfire can result in up to three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won (US$20,433) in South Korea.
Prosecutors have said the investigation needs to focus on whether he violated the Forest Protection Act, as well as the Criminal Act and the Cultural Heritage Protection Act.
They also called for joint investigations with the police and relevant authorities, as the wildfires affected a total of five cities and counties in the province, according to officials. (Yonhap)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Ex-President Yoon skips insurrection trial for 3rd straight week
Former President Yoon Suk Yeol did not attend his insurrection trial for the third consecutive week Thursday, again citing poor health. The 10th hearing of the trial opened at the Seoul Central District Court without the appearance of Yoon, who is currently under arrest at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, just south of the capital. "Since he has not appeared consecutively, we will begin investigation proceedings in accordance with the Criminal Procedure Code and criminal procedure rules," the court said. "We will verify with the detention center whether he is in fact in poor health and whether it is possible to bring him in." Yoon is standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection and abusing his power through his failed bid to impose martial law in December. The hearing proceeded as an extraordinary session to question witnesses for the case. The prosecution protested Yoon had attended all nine hearings prior to his second arrest earlier this month without complaining about his health and even attended a separate court hearing last week that reviewed the legality of his arrest. "Following absences from the two previous hearings, he has again failed to appear without legitimate grounds," they said. "We ask the court to issue a warrant to bring him in as he has failed to appear three consecutive times in disregard of his duty as a defendant to attend." Yoon's lawyers claimed his absence was also partly due to questions about the legality of special counsel Cho Eun-suk taking over the prosecution's indictments against the former president. On Saturday, special counsel Cho's team separately indicted him on abuse of power charges related to his alleged violation of the rights of Cabinet members and other offenses. The indictments came days after Yoon was placed in custody a second time over the martial law attempt. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
Probe targets alleged link between Mongolia operation, martial law
South Korea's special counsel is investigating a covert operation conducted by the military in Mongolia in November, in which two intelligence officers allegedly attempted to contact North Korean officials shortly before former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. The special counsel suspects that the operation was designed to provoke North Korea or to open a line of communication that could serve as justification for Yoon to declare martial law. According to local daily Hankyoreh on Wednesday, two Korea Defense Intelligence Command officers — a lieutenant colonel and a major — were deployed to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where they attempted to approach the North Korean Embassy through Mongolian officials. They had been tasked with gathering intelligence on North Korea, and their mission report reportedly listed the North Korean Embassy as a target. The officers were detained by Mongolian intelligence authorities during the operation and were released after then-KDIC commander Gen. Moon Sang-ho traveled to Mongolia to request their release. Moon was suspended in December over his alleged involvement in the martial law plan. The KDIC has long been linked to the broader martial law scheme. However, no concrete evidence has been found to prove its direct involvement, apart from its ties to Noh Sang-won, who was arrested in December on charges of orchestrating the plan. Noh reportedly received a list of 46 intelligence officers from Gen. Moon in October 2024. A notebook seized from Noh contained phrases such as 'induce the North's attack at NLL' and 'waste balloon,' which investigators believe suggest attempts to fabricate a security crisis in the lead-up to the Dec. 3 declaration. If such intent from the KDIC is discovered through the special counsel investigation, officials responsible for the actions could be subject to charges of treason. Under Article 93 of the Criminal Act, treason refers to acts of colluding with foreign powers to initiate war or armed rebellion against the country. As of press time, the Ministry of National Defense has not commented on the investigation. When reports about the Mongolia operation first surfaced in late 2024, the ministry denied any connection between the trip and preparations for martial law. The investigation into the Mongolia operation is unfolding alongside suspicions of a similar effort to provoke the North: a drone mission carried out by the military in early October 2024. Testimony obtained by the special counsel indicates that former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun ordered the Drone Operations Command to fly an unmanned aircraft toward North Korea in October 2024. According to transcripts, Joint Chiefs of Staff Operations Director Lt. Gen. Lee Seung-oh testified that Kim personally directed the missions, rerouting drones to areas such as Nampo and regions north of the East Sea's Northern Limit Line. Military personnel testified that the drone flights took place on Oct. 3, 9 and 10. On Oct. 11, North Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming that South Korean drones had flown over Pyongyang and dropped anti-regime leaflets. The special counsel later sought an arrest warrant for former Drone Operations Commander Kim Yong-dae on charges of forging military documents to conceal the mission. However, the court rejected the request on Monday, citing insufficient grounds for detention. The investigation team is reviewing the court's decision and considering whether to refile the request.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
Special counsel looks into ties between covert operation in Mongolia, 2024 martial law
South Korea's special counsel is investigating a covert operation conducted by the military in Mongolia in November, in which two intelligence officers allegedly attempted to contact North Korean officials shortly before former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. The special counsel suspects that the operation was designed to provoke North Korea or to open a line of communication that could serve as justification for Yoon to declare martial law. According to local daily Hankyoreh on Wednesday, two Korea Defense Intelligence Command officers — a lieutenant colonel and a major — were deployed to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, where they attempted to approach the North Korean Embassy through Mongolian officials. They had been tasked with gathering intelligence on North Korea, and their mission report reportedly listed the North Korean Embassy as a target. The officers were detained by Mongolian intelligence authorities during the operation and were released after then-KDIC commander Gen. Moon Sang-ho traveled to Mongolia to request their release. Moon was suspended in December over his alleged involvement in the martial law plan. The KDIC has long been linked to the broader martial law scheme. However, no concrete evidence has been found to prove its direct involvement, apart from its ties to Noh Sang-won, who was arrested in December on charges of orchestrating the plan. Noh reportedly received a list of 46 intelligence officers from Gen. Moon in October 2024. A notebook seized from Noh contained phrases such as 'induce the North's attack at NLL' and 'waste balloon,' which investigators believe suggest attempts to fabricate a security crisis in the lead-up to the Dec. 3 declaration. If such intent from the KDIC is discovered through the special counsel investigation, officials responsible for the actions could be subject to charges of treason. Under Article 93 of the Criminal Act, treason refers to acts of colluding with foreign powers to initiate war or armed rebellion against the country. As of press time, the Ministry of National Defense has not commented on the investigation. When reports about the Mongolia operation first surfaced in late 2024, the ministry denied any connection between the trip and preparations for martial law. The investigation into the Mongolia operation is unfolding alongside suspicions of a similar effort to provoke the North: a drone mission carried out by the military in early October 2024. Testimony obtained by the special counsel indicates that former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun ordered the Drone Operations Command to fly an unmanned aircraft toward North Korea in October 2024. According to transcripts, Joint Chiefs of Staff Operations Director Lt. Gen. Lee Seung-oh testified that Kim personally directed the missions, rerouting drones to areas such as Nampo and regions north of the East Sea's Northern Limit Line. Military personnel testified that the drone flights took place on Oct. 3, 9 and 10. On Oct. 11, North Korea's Foreign Ministry issued a statement claiming that South Korean drones had flown over Pyongyang and dropped anti-regime leaflets. The special counsel later sought an arrest warrant for former Drone Operations Commander Kim Yong-dae on charges of forging military documents to conceal the mission. However, the court rejected the request on Monday, citing insufficient grounds for detention. The investigation team is reviewing the court's decision and considering whether to refile the request.
