National Intelligence Service(NIS) First Deputy Director Hong Jang-won says President Yoon Suk Yeol called him shortly after declaring martial law on Tuesday night and ordered the arrest of key legislators. 

Rep. Kim Byung-kee of the main opposition Democratic Party(DP) told reporters on Friday that he was present when Hong gave that testimony in a meeting with the head of the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee, Shin Sung-bum. 

NIS Director Cho Tae-yong was also in attendance at that meeting. 

According to Kim, Hong got a call shortly after Yoon declared martial law. 

In the phone talks, Yoon told Hong to “bring them all in,” apparently referring to key politicians. 

The president then said he would give the NIS the authority to investigate anti-communist crimes before instructing Hong to assist the Defense Counterintelligence Command. 

Hong then spoke with Defense Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, who asked him to help the command locate politicians whose names were on the list of people to be arrested. 

According to Hong, the list included National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, ruling People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon, DP leader Lee Jae-myung, DP floor leader Park Chan-dae, senior DP Rep. Kim Min-seok, Legislation and Judiciary Committee chair Jung Chung-rae and Rebuilding Korea Party leader Cho Kuk, among others. 

Kim quoted Hong as saying he did not follow Yoon’s orders in the belief that they were illogical and that a meeting of key NIS officials held shortly after he got the call from Yoon ended without any particular conclusions.