A special counsel looking into allegations of evidence tampering in a previous probe on the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster has dropped the charges, ending its three-month investigation.

Announcing the results in a press conference Tuesday, the team said it has ruled out proceeding with an indictment, failing to find any evidence to support the claims.

Launched in May, the probe has looked into possible data manipulation of the closed-circuit TV footage, suspicions on the Navy and Coast Guard's retrieval of the digital video recorder, and adequacy of government's related response.

The counsel said the recorder retrieved on June 22, 2014, is the original device from the Sewol ferry. There have been allegations the DVR was switched. 

The counsel said that for someone to have sneaked into the vessel to take out the DVR without anyone noticing is highly unlikely, adding that it found no evidence to suggest the recorder was retrieved before June 22.