The special counsel team said its investigation of former National Intelligence Service(NIS) Director Cho Tae-yong marked the first time an NIS chief had been charged with dereliction of duty.

Assistant counselor Park Ji-young said in a briefing on Wednesday that, though the NIS chief reports directly to the president, they must maintain a high degree of political neutrality and protect the freedom and rights. 

The National Intelligence Service Act stipulates that the NIS chief must promptly report to the president and the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee any situation that could gravely affect national security.

The probe team reportedly stressed during the previous day's detention hearing that Cho had neglected his duties as NIS chief by failing to report former President Yoon Suk Yeol's plan to declare martial law to the National Assembly despite being aware of it beforehand.