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SEOUL — A high-ranking military officer suspected of drafting a manual on using torture and psychoactive drugs to extract confessions during the December 3rd martial law incident has reportedly been promoted to Colonel and remains on active duty.
According to investigative reports by The Hankyoreh on January 5, the Special Investigation Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense is currently investigating a "Colonel Lee," the current commander of a field unit within the Army Intelligence Command (HID), on charges of involvement in the insurrection.
Investigators believe Colonel Lee, then a Lieutenant Colonel in the Human Intelligence (HID) unit, authored an internal document titled "Methods for Obtaining Key Information through Negotiation and Persuasion." Despite the gravity of the allegations, Lee was promoted to Colonel after the current administration took office and continues to hold a leadership position within the intelligence services.
Details of the "Torture Manual"
The document in question, first disclosed by Representative Park Sun-won of the Democratic Party of Korea last month, contains chillingly detailed instructions on extracting information from political opponents and civilians.
The manual outlines various methods of physical and psychological torture, including:
Physical Torture: Cold-water immersion (waterboarding), sleep deprivation, "Russian Roulette," and forced nudity in low temperatures to induce hypothermia.
Psychological Torture: Threats of permanent disability, life imprisonment, and solitary confinement.
Chemical Intervention: The use of "truth serums" and anesthetics to break a subject's will. Specific substances mentioned include Benzodiazepines (sedatives), Sodium Pentothal (a barbiturate), and general anesthetics like Propofol and Ketamine.
The plan aimed to place subjects in a state of "zero resistance" through drug administration before forcing them to succumb to threats or persuasion.
Ongoing Investigation and Public Outcry
The Ministry of National Defense stated that while Colonel Lee was not initially a subject of the Special Prosecution’s investigation into the insurrection, he was identified during the Special Investigation Headquarters’ subsequent probe. "We will take stern measures according to the law once the charges are confirmed based on the investigation results," a ministry official said.
The revelation has sparked intense criticism, with lawmakers and human rights advocates pointing out that such "brutal schemes" are reminiscent of past military dictatorships. Representative Park Sun-won emphasized that the delay in holding those responsible accountable poses a significant risk to national democratic standards.
The Ministry of National Defense continues to look into the matter, alongside other support programs for international organization placements, while the public demands transparency regarding how an individual linked to such documents could successfully pass a promotion screening during an active investigation.
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