'Charge of Rebellion' Military and Police Command Trial Officially Begins... Today Kim Yong-hyun and No Sang-won First Hearing

Kim Yonghyun and Noh Sangwon on the 17th
Jo Jiho and Kim Bongsik on the 20th

The trials of key military and police figures accused of participating in the December 3 emergency martial law incident will intensify this week, starting on the 17th with former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun. The preparatory hearings have concluded, and the formal trial phase is now beginning.

Yonhap News

The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Gui-yeon) will hold the first trial of former Minister Kim, who was indicted and detained on charges of engaging in important duties related to rebellion, at 2 p.m. that day. The trial of former Minister Kim has been consolidated with those of former Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Intelligence Command Noh Sang-won and former Military Police Colonel Kim Yong-gun of the 3rd Field Army Command, who are accused of conspiring in rebellion and premeditating the incident during the so-called "Hamburger Joint Meeting."

Former Minister Kim is on trial for allegedly ordering the deployment of armed martial law troops alongside President Yoon Seok-yeol to block the National Assembly and prevent the resolution to lift martial law.

Former Commander Noh was indicted and detained on charges of pushing for the establishment of the 2nd Investigation Unit of the Joint Investigation Headquarters of the Martial Law Command to investigate suspicions of election fraud involving the National Election Commission after the declaration of martial law, and for ordering the occupation of the National Election Commission and the arrest of its staff. Noh, identified as the "behind-the-scenes" figure of the December 3 martial law, is known to be a junior alumnus of former Minister Kim Yong-hyun from the Korea Military Academy and had a working relationship with him during their military service.

Former Military Police Commander Kim was brought to trial for participating in the conspiracy to establish the 2nd Investigation Unit and attempting to arrest National Election Commission staff under the orders of former Commander Noh.

On the 20th, the first trial will be held for Police Chief Jo Ji-ho and former Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong-sik, who were indicted on charges of engaging in important duties related to rebellion. They are accused of mobilizing the police to block the National Assembly during martial law and participating in the operation of arrest squads targeting key figures such as Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, and former leader Han Dong-hoon of the People Power Party.

Additionally, on the same day, the first preparatory hearing will be held for Yoon Seung-young, Investigation Planning Coordinator of the National Police Agency’s National Investigation Headquarters, and former National Assembly Security Chief Mok Hyun-tae, who were indicted without detention on charges of participating in the operation of arrest squads and involvement in blocking the National Assembly on the 28th of last month. It is expected that the decision on whether to consolidate these two cases will also be made that day.