Whether Jo Jiho and Kim Bongsik Participated in Insurrection Is the Key Issue
Proceedings Separated from Former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun's Case
The police leadership indicted on charges of insurrection related to the December 3 emergency martial law will proceed with full trial procedures next month without consolidation with other insurrection defendants' cases.
On the 27th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon) held the second pretrial hearing for Cho Ji-ho, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, and Kim Bong-sik, former Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, who were indicted on charges of engaging in important duties related to insurrection. Both Cho and Kim were absent from the hearing.
The full trial procedures for them will take place at 10 a.m. on the 20th of next month. The court stated, "The prosecution might be able to conduct witness examinations even on March 20," adding, "Conducting key witness examinations and proceeding with the trial quickly will allow for flexible handling of detention issues, which could benefit the defendants."
Regarding the trials of Commissioner Cho and former Commissioner Kim, the court decided to proceed separately from other insurrection defendants such as former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, but will consider consolidating the cases later when determining the establishment of the insurrection charges.
The court said, "There is a distinction between disputing the recognition of insurrection itself and disputing conspiracy and participation regardless of that," adding, "(Commissioner Cho and former Commissioner Kim) are more related to the latter, but while the former should also be contested, it might be better to narrow down the issues and proceed accordingly."
Commissioner Cho and former Commissioner Kim were arrested and indicted on the 8th of last month on charges of mobilizing approximately 2,000 police personnel during the emergency martial law to blockade the National Assembly and participating in arrest squads targeting key figures such as Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the People Power Party.
Former Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong-sik is responding during the 8th hearing of President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on February 13, 2025. Photo by Constitutional Court
They denied the charges at the first trial held on the 6th. The defense teams of Commissioner Cho and former Commissioner Kim respectively stated, "They did not practically participate in the insurrection but rather prevented the execution of the crime," and "We generally deny the charges of insurrection, intentional disruption of the constitutional order, and conspiracy."
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