The case, which has had major political consequences, concerns a murder on the border between South and North Korea of a high-ranking official in the fishing industry.
Security chief Suh Hoon is accused of destroying intelligence reports about the officer’s murder. The formal charge against him is part of South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol’s efforts to investigate suspected cases of cover-ups and assassinations during the tenure of former President Moon Jae-In.
The former government stated in connection with the death in 2020 that the official was about to flee South Korea and surrender to North Korean authorities.
Former security chief Suh Hoon, who also had a high international profile, was arrested on Saturday morning local time.