[News Figures] Key Figure in Martial Law Document Controversy 'Jo Hyuncheon'

Cho Hyun-cheon is the former commander of the Military Security Command (now the Defense Counterintelligence Command), known for allegedly ordering the drafting of the so-called 'martial law document' during the Park Geun-hye administration.

Born in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, he graduated from Daegu High School and the Korea Military Academy (38th class). He served as the Director of Personnel Operations at the Army Personnel Command, Director of Personnel Planning at Army Headquarters, Commander of the 8th Mechanized Infantry Division, and Commander of the Cyber Command. He gained attention when he was appointed commander of the Military Security Command in October 2014, despite having little experience in intelligence.

At the end of December 2016, a document titled 'Report on Suspicions of Military Personnel Intervention Using Choi Soon-sil’s Secret Influence' was leaked. The core content was that Choi Soon-sil (who changed her name to Choi Seo-won), a secret power figure in the Park Geun-hye government, and the illegal military private organization 'Aljahoe,' thought to have disappeared, attempted to seize key military positions. The report sparked controversy as it revealed former commander Cho’s powerful actions and suspicions of interference in military personnel affairs.

Former Defense Security Command Commander Cho Hyun-cheon, a key figure in the allegations regarding the martial law documents before the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, is speaking after being escorted to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office following his arrival through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the morning of the 29th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In February 2017, he formed a 'Martial Law Document Drafting Task Force (TF)' and allegedly ordered the direct drafting of the martial law document, which he reportedly reported to former Minister of National Defense Han Min-koo. The martial law document, revealed publicly in July 2018 by the Military Human Rights Center and others, contained plans to declare martial law and impose curfew orders to suppress the candlelight protests calling for the resignation of former President Park Geun-hye, deploy military forces to block rallies and demonstrations, and control the media.

After the document was made public, former President Moon Jae-in ordered a special investigation, and the prosecution formed a joint military-prosecutor investigation team (Joint Investigation Team) that conducted an investigation for about three months. However, the investigation into the drafting process and execution plans was halted when former commander Cho, identified as directly involved in drafting the document, left for the United States in December 2017.

In February 2019, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the U.S. government to forcibly repatriate former commander Cho, but in March 2019, Interpol refused the red notice, resulting in a failure to forcibly repatriate him. Last September, through his lawyer, he expressed his intention to voluntarily return to cooperate with the investigation as the person ultimately responsible for drafting the martial law document. After six months, on the 29th, he voluntarily returned and was arrested by the prosecution. It has been five years and three months since he fled to the United States.