Seoul: A special counsel team announced plans to summon a former presidential security adviser for questioning this week as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of interference by top military officials and the presidential office in the initial probe concerning the 2023 death of a Marine.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the team intends to question former Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo on Friday. Kim is being summoned as a suspect in relation to allegations that high-ranking officials, including former President Yoon Suk Yeol, intervened in the military's investigation into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun. Chae tragically lost his life after being swept away by a swollen stream during a search operation for victims of torrential rain in July 2023.

The special counsel team aims to focus the questioning on allegations that Yoon expressed dissatisfaction and challenged the military's investigation findings, which held a senior Marine commander accountable for Chae's death. Following this incident, a media briefing on the findings was reportedly canceled, and military investigators were instructed to halt the transfer of the case to the police.

Choung Min-young, an assistant special prosecutor with the team, noted in a briefing that the investigation will cover the contents of reports, orders, and any other indications of intervention by the presidential office following the meeting. The team suspects that Kim was likely present at the briefing, given his position as a senior presidential security official at the time.