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

According to Yonhap News Agency, investigators began questioning former NFA 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 December 3, 2024. The second comprehensive special counsel team led by Kwon Chang-young is handling the investigation.

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

Last year, special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team indicted Lee on charges of ordering utility cutoffs at media outlets but decided not to indict Heo, citing the circumstances and consequences of his alleged offense. However, Kwon's team has launched a new investigation into Heo, asserting that legal punishment is necessary due to his alleged engagement in important duties related to the insurrection.

The team is also considering additional investigations into Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, over allegations of his involvement in attempts to deliver a message justifying Yoon's martial law to U.S. intelligence agencies. Hong appeared at Kwon's office last Friday for questioning over these allegations.