Seoul: A special counsel team said Wednesday it is questioning a former senior intelligence official over his claim that former President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the arrest of politicians and judges during his brief imposition of martial law.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the team led by special counsel Cho Eun-suk has summoned Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, for questioning. Hong previously testified during Yoon's impeachment trial, stating that he received a call from the former president on the night of December 3, when martial law was declared, instructing him to "round them all up."

Hong further alleged that upon contacting Yeo In-hyung, the then head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, Yeo provided a list of individuals Yoon wanted arrested. This list reportedly included now President Lee Jae Myung and then ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon.

The special counsel team is also anticipated to seek additional details from Hong following a recent police discovery. Records of a secure phone call between Yoon and Hong, made three days after the martial law attempt, were found to have been deleted remotely.