'On-site Command' 707 Special Mission Unit Leader "Ordered to Block Parliament... Broke Glass and Entered"

Sixth Impeachment Trial at the Constitutional Court
Kim Hyuntae: "I was told, 'The number must not exceed 150'"
Testimony on Phone Conversation with Former Commander Kwak Jonggeun

Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command 707 Special Mission Unit, who was deployed to the National Assembly during the 12·3 emergency martial law and commanded on-site, testified that he received orders to blockade the National Assembly.

Kim Hyun-tae, the commander of the 707 Special Mission Unit who was deployed to the National Assembly during the December 3 emergency martial law incident, appeared as a witness at the 6th impeachment trial hearing held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 6th, responding to questions from the press. 2025.02.06 Photo by Joint Press Corps

On the 6th, Kim appeared as a witness at the Constitutional Court during the 6th impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol and testified, "The mission I received was to blockade and secure," adding, "I instructed my troops to blockade the National Assembly building and the Members' Office Building to secure the buildings." However, he also responded, "I had no intention of entering the main plenary hall."

Kim continued his testimony regarding a phone conversation with former Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun during the emergency martial law. He stated that he received a call from former Commander Kwak at around 12:17 a.m. on December 4 last year, saying, "He asked if there was a way to use tasers or blank bullets, and I replied that their use was restricted and not allowed."

Regarding the second call with former Commander Kwak at around 12:36 a.m., just after breaking the glass window of the National Assembly main building and entering, Kim answered, "(Former Commander Kwak) spoke in a gentle, pleading tone rather than a strong one, asking if it would be possible to enter since the number should not exceed 150 people."

President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the 6th impeachment trial hearing held on February 6 at the Grand Bench of the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, observing the positions of Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae and the other constitutional justices. 2025.02.06

Regarding breaking the window to enter the National Assembly, Kim responded that it was not an order from former Commander Kwak. He explained that they initially tried to enter through the main entrance to blockade the National Assembly as originally instructed, but due to the large number of people at the front gate, he decided on his own to break the window and enter.

Kim stated that the number of 707 Special Mission Unit members deployed to the National Assembly at that time was 97, including himself, and that the first group of 25 who arrived was divided into two teams. One team guarded the back gate, while the other broke the window and entered, moving toward the front gate.

When asked whether there was an order to pull out lawmakers, he replied, "There was no such order, and even if I remember there was, it would not have been allowed."