Kim Do-gyun, Former Commander of the Capital Defense Command, "Noh Sang-won, a Dangerous Figure... Interviewed Subordinates by Palm Reading"

"Reputed as a Person to Keep at a Distance"

Former Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won, who was identified as a behind-the-scenes figure in the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law' incident, is alleged to have read palm lines when selecting subordinates during his active duty.

On the 26th, Kim Do-kyun, former commander of the Capital Defense Command, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and said about former Commander Noh, "Among colleagues and juniors, he was evaluated as a very dangerous person to be close to and someone to avoid." He added, "(Former Commander Noh) was especially criticized as a very negative figure among intelligence corps officers," emphasizing, "Even at the time of his military discharge, he was dishonorably discharged to the extent that he could not receive good evaluations from his juniors."

Former Intelligence Command Chief No Sang-won, who is accused of premeditating the emergency martial law on December 3 and drafting the proclamation, is being transferred to the prosecution by a transport vehicle at the Seoul Western Police Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, on the 24th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

Former Commander Kim said, "When listening to stories from juniors and colleagues who worked with him, there were many mentions of shamanistic matters even at that time," and added, "For example, he exhibited very unusual behaviors beyond what ordinary people do, such as reading palm lines when selecting his subordinates." He continued, "There are reports that he showed the same behavior toward other personnel, to the extent that he changed his own name based on fortune-telling."

Former Commander Kim also revealed that Noh changed his name to become a general. He said that Noh's name before the change was 'Noh Yong-rae' and that he changed his name after hearing that he needed to do so to become a general. He also added, "I couldn't understand when I heard that former Commander Noh ran a fortune-telling shop after leaving the military."

Meanwhile, Noh, a graduate of the 41st class of the Korea Military Academy, was dishonorably discharged in 2018 amid sexual harassment allegations while serving as the head of the Army Intelligence School. Afterward, he opened a fortune-telling shop in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, and worked as a shaman. From February 2022 until early this year, he visited a shaman in Gunsan, Jeonbuk, more than 30 times to check the fortunes and physiognomy of martial law-related figures, including President Yoon Seok-yeol and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun. It is known that he asked the shaman whether former Minister Kim would betray him and whether President Yoon's martial law would succeed.

Former Commander Noh was sent to the prosecution in custody on the 24th on charges of rebellion and abuse of authority and underwent his first interrogation on the 26th. He is accused of premeditating martial law through so-called 'hamburger shop meetings' held twice on the 1st and 3rd of this month at a fast-food restaurant in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.