'Hamburger Meeting' Noh Sang-won Side: "Helped Fellow Soldiers... Treason Charge Does Not Stand"

Court Requests Prosecution to Specify Defendant's Actions and Roles in Indictment

Former Intelligence Command Chief Noh Sang-won, accused of premeditating the emergency martial law on December 3 and drafting the proclamation, is being transferred to the prosecution while moving to a transport vehicle at the Seoul Western Police Station in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul on the 24th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

The side of former Intelligence Commanding General Noh Sang-won, who is accused of conspiring to commit insurrection as a key participant in the 'hamburger joint meeting,' announced on the 6th that they will completely deny the charges at the first trial. The prosecution judged that former General Noh gave specific orders, plans, and executions through actual commanders belonging to the Intelligence Command to verify election fraud.

At the first preparatory hearing for the key participant in insurrection case held by the Criminal Division 25 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon), the defense attorney for former General Noh, when asked whether they admit the charges, stated, "We hold the position that the crime of insurrection does not apply. Assisting fellow soldiers does not constitute abuse of authority, and we completely deny all charges."

On the other hand, the prosecution explained, "One of the main purposes of the emergency martial law in this case was to verify election fraud. Former General Noh had a plan to investigate the arrest and detention by the Joint Investigation Headquarters and the Election Commission, and gave specific orders through Colonel Kim and Colonel Jung, commanders belonging to the Intelligence Command, based on this overall framework."

The court asked the prosecution to clarify the 'actions' and 'roles' of former General Noh in the indictment, stating that they were not clear. The prosecution responded that they would specify these details in a future written opinion. The second preparatory hearing for former General Noh is scheduled to be held at 11 a.m. on the 2nd.