The Key to the Success of the Special Investigation on Internal Affairs - Noh Sang-won

Appointment of Special Prosecutor and Serious Issues of Constitutional Order

On June 12, 2025, President Lee Jae-myung declared the nation's determination to confront a significant issue that has shaken the constitutional order of South Korea by appointing Special Prosecutor Jo Eun-seok in connection with the insurrection incident. This special investigation goes beyond simple criminal inquiries it is a critical national investigation aimed at uncovering the reality of the insurrection attempt that threatens the foundations of democracy. And the focus is naturally converging on one individual: former Commander of the Army Intelligence Command, Noh Sang-won.

The 'Noh Sang-won Notebook' - The Reality of the Martial Law Plan for Implementation

The so-called "Noh Sang-won Notebook" secured by the prosecution goes beyond mere personal notes, containing a systematic and detailed execution plan in approximately 70 pages. This notebook classifies over 500 individuals, including cabinet members, journalists, and civil society figures, into grades A to D as targets for identification, and includes extreme expressions suggesting that some require "confirmation eradication." Additionally, items such as "North Korean air defense guidance," "diplomatic warfare initiated from China," and "an incident similar to the Cheonan sinking" indicate attempts to artificially create justification for the situation from external sources. The document shows a high degree of congruence in formal aspects, such as font, item structure, and punctuation, similar to official martial law documents, leading the prosecution to conclude that Noh Sang-won is not merely a planner but the actual author. This notebook serves not only as evidence of the case but also as a blueprint for the execution of a coup and the starting point for the investigation.

From Civilian to 'Behind-the-Scenes Power' - The Operation of Informal Power

More shockingly, it is a fact that Noh Sang-won was already a civilian at the time of writing the notebook. Even after retiring from the position of Director of the Defense Intelligence Command at the end of 2023, he received the title of 'Chief' from current intelligence officials and effectively formed a command structure, leading the martial law plan. The notebook includes specific plans to establish 'Investigation Team 2' to investigate the National Election Commission and to conduct comprehensive investigations of politicians and civic groups after the declaration of martial law. This suggests an attempt to go beyond a simple military coup and to use martial law as a means of regime maintenance. Noh Sang-won was at the center of a series of structural plans involving 'political control through military means', 'securing justification for martial law through external provocations', and 'post-event suppression and intervention in elections', which aligns with a typical roadmap for insurrection. Furthermore, he is also accused of providing 26 million won worth of gifts to military generals in exchange for securing internal cooperation for the implementation of martial law. This is a key indication that an organized collusion system was actually operational.

The Success or Failure of the Special Investigation - Why 'Noh Sang-won'?

The Special Prosecutor's Team led by Jo Eun-seok is composed of a large organization of over 200 members, including 60 prosecutors. This investigation is not merely aimed at determining the authenticity of the documents but is intended to reveal the execution structure on which those documents were based and the various forces that cooperated with it. At the center of this is again Noh Sang-won. He personally designed the emergency execution plan through his notebook, organized an internal cooperation system within the military, and even devised external and internal disruption strategies. If he was not just a simple participant but a planner and executor, identifying his true nature becomes the first gateway and crucial key to dissecting the entire insurrection plan. The indication that Noh Sang-won did not merely create documents but rather influenced military organization and designed state-level operations that included diplomatic and psychological warfare strongly suggests that he was the hub of the 'insurrection execution network.' Therefore, when this incident is defined not as an individual crime but as 'organized crime,' the work of revealing its structure and leadership is necessary to implement legal definitions and simultaneously establish historical truths.

Conclusion - The starting point of structural disintegration is 'a single person'

The special investigation into the rebellion of 2025 is not merely a trial contesting the punishment of a single suspect. It is a historical investigation tracking the planned and organized attempts to undermine the constitutional order, revealing the whole picture. Therefore, the success of the special investigation goes beyond proving the guilt of individual No Sang-won it depends on dismantling the entire system of the rebellion plan, including the planners, executors, collaborators, and behind-the-scenes forces. The only clue to untangling that vast structure is No Sang-won. His notebook serves as both a document and a map, while his statements are both leads and keys. The special investigation must clarify the contours of the case centered around him and uncover the reality of the attempted rebellion in detail. If No Sang-won is not properly identified, this special investigation will inevitably remain a half-hearted pursuit of justice. The success of the rebellion investigation hinges solely on how accurately and deeply we examine the identity of No Sang-won. He is the key, the entrance, and the very truth that lies on the boundary.