'Martial Law Troops Deployed to National Assembly'... Lee Jin-woo, Defense Security Command Commander, Also Scheduled to Attend Warrant Hearing This Afternoon
Lieutenant General Gwak Jong-geun, Commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, appeared at the court for a warrant hearing. During the 'December 3 Emergency Martial Law' incident, Commander Gwak deployed subordinate units including the 707 Special Mission Group to the National Assembly.
According to the military on the 16th, Commander Gwak appeared at around 10 a.m. at the Central Military Court in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, for the warrant hearing. Dressed in plain clothes, Commander Gwak entered the court without saying a word, bowing his head in response to reporters' questions such as "What points will you clarify to the court?" and "Do you have anything to say about the allegations that you recommended the use of tasers and blank cartridges?"
Earlier, on the 14th, the Prosecution's Special Investigation Headquarters for Emergency Martial Law requested an arrest warrant for Commander Gwak on charges of engaging in important duties related to rebellion and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights. Commander Gwak is accused of conspiring with President Yoon Seok-yeol, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, and others to incite a riot with the intent to disrupt the constitutional order.
The martial law troops deployed to the National Assembly included the 707 Special Mission Group, the elite special forces under the Special Warfare Command, and the 1st Airborne Brigade. It is also understood that the 3rd and 9th Airborne Brigades dispatched troops during the martial law period.
Commander Gwak stated at the National Assembly on the 10th that he personally received orders from President Yoon to "quickly break down the door and pull out the personnel inside" because "the quorum for the National Assembly's resolution to lift martial law has not yet been met," but he did not follow the order after consulting with the field commanders. The decision on whether to detain Commander Gwak is expected to be announced in the afternoon.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Lee Jin-woo, Commander of the Capital Defense Command, is also scheduled to undergo a warrant hearing at the military court in the afternoon on the same charges (engaging in important duties related to rebellion and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights). Commander Lee is accused of ordering the deployment of approximately 200 troops, including 75 military police from the Capital Defense Command and 136 personnel from the 1st Security Group, to blockade the National Assembly.
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