Seoul: Former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Cho Tae-yong has acknowledged that former President Yoon Suk Yeol flew into a rage when briefed on the results of an initial probe into the death of a Marine in 2023, reversing his longstanding denial, legal sources said Wednesday. Cho admitted this during questioning by special counsel Lee Myeong-hyeon's team Tuesday, as he faces allegations of government interference in the Marine Corps' investigation into Cpl. Chae Su-geun's death in July 2023.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Chae was swept away by an overflowing stream while on a search mission for torrential rain victims. Cho was among the senior officials present at a meeting that month when Yoon allegedly erupted in anger over the preliminary probe results, which found a senior Marine commander responsible for Chae's death. The case revolves around allegations that the investigation results were later altered to exonerate the initial suspects.

Cho had previously contended at the National Assembly in August 2023 that the meeting did not include a briefing on Chae's death and denied Yoon's alleged outrage. With Cho's admission, four of the seven attendees have now acknowledged Yoon's outburst. The special counsel team plans to question the meeting's three other participants soon.