Hong Jang-won

A graduate of the 43rd class of Korea Military Academy, he served as a company commander in the 707th Special Mission Group, specializing in counterterrorism operations during his military service. He was discharged as a reserve major in Republic of Korea Army.^[1]

After joining the Agency for National Security Planning [ko] (ANSP), he worked in intelligence agencies, primarily in foreign intelligence collection and covert operations. He later served as Chief Secretary to NIS Director and as the Director's Special Advisor on North Korea.^[2]

In November 2023, following the dismissal of NIS Director, First Deputy Director, and Second Deputy Director, he was appointed First Deputy Director of NIS.

During the 2024 South Korean martial law crisis, President Yoon Suk Yeol allegedly ordered him to assist the Defense Counterintelligence Command (DCIC) and to "take this opportunity to arrest and clean them up."^[3] After speaking with President Yoon, Hong reportedly called DCIC Commander Yeo In-hyung to relay the order. Yeo later testified that he provided a list of politicians—including Lee Jae-myung, Cho Kuk, and Han Dong-hoon—and requested location tracking.^[4]