Former Minister Kim's Defense Team: "Investigation Prosecutor's Presented Documents Produced by Lawmaker... Illegal Investigation Interference"
The legal team of former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, who was detained on charges including insurrection, announced on the 14th that they exercised the right to remain silent, stating that "the prosecution is conducting an illegal investigation." From the prosecution's perspective, this is a setback as Kim, a key figure who effectively consulted alone with President Yoon on martial law prior to the incident and is considered the 'key man' in the insurrection case, holds testimony crucial to the investigation of President Yoon.
After completing the investigation in the afternoon, Kim's legal team told reporters, "A specific political party and members of the National Assembly illegally interfered in the investigation, and the prosecution has become a political tool for that party." They also claimed that one of the documents presented by the prosecutor during the investigation was produced by Park Seon-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Kim's legal team announced plans to file complaints and disciplinary requests against Park and the investigating prosecutors for abuse of authority and illegal detention and confinement, demanding the cancellation of Kim's detention.
The Special Investigation Headquarters for Emergency Martial Law (headed by Park Se-hyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office) summoned the detained Kim Yong-hyun at around 2 p.m. on the same day and questioned him for about three hours. The investigation was recorded on video. The prosecution focused on questioning the extent of President Yoon's involvement in the revision process of the martial law proclamation and whether the opposition party's frequent impeachment motions could be considered an emergency situation warranting the declaration of martial law. However, Kim reportedly consistently refused to testify.
Refusal to testify during the investigation stage is generally regarded as an expression of non-cooperation based on the position of not admitting the charges applied by the investigative agency. In such cases, the issues are contested during the trial phase. This could potentially delay the pace of the investigation into President Yoon and the establishment of the charges.
The prosecution will summon Kim Yong-hyun again at 2 p.m. on the 15th.
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