Additional Indictment Assigned to the 34th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court
Previous Rebellion Case Handled by the 25th Criminal Division
Possibility of Consolidating the Two Cases
The case of former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun, the first indictment by Cho Eunseok's special investigation team on rebellion, has been assigned to the 34th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Han Sungjin). Since this is a different division from the 25th Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun), which has been handling rebellion cases, there is a possibility of consolidation.
On the 20th, the Seoul Central District Court announced that the case of former Minister Kim, who was additionally indicted on charges of obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means and incitement to destroy evidence, has been assigned as such.
Previously, on June 18, Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok filed an additional indictment against former Minister Kim. Kim is accused of deceiving the Presidential Security Service to obtain a secure phone and delivering it to former Army Intelligence Commander Noh Sangwon on December 2, 2024, prior to the declaration of emergency martial law, and of instructing his close aide, Yang, who acted as his executive secretary, to destroy materials related to martial law on December 5, 2024, immediately after the declaration.
Until now, related cases, including Kim's trial on charges of performing key duties in the rebellion, had been assigned to the 25th Criminal Division, which has effectively been in charge of rebellion cases. However, this time, the case was assigned to a different division. Currently, the 24th Criminal Division is handling cases related to emergency martial law involving former Minister Kim, former President Yoon Sukyeol, and National Police Chief Cho Jiho, among other defendants charged with rebellion.
The division that will handle the consolidated case will also be determined through consultation. The special investigation team's additional indictment is seen as a preemptive measure to prevent former Minister Kim from being released unconditionally when his detention period expires on June 26, 2025, after he refused the court's decision on bail with conditions such as a deposit. Previously, on December 27, 2024, Kim was indicted and detained on charges of performing key duties in the rebellion and abuse of authority. The six-month detention period for the first trial, as stipulated by the Criminal Procedure Act, will expire on June 26, 2025.
If no additional detention is imposed, former Minister Kim will be released a week later. Once released due to the expiration of the detention period, he cannot be detained again on the same charges. In this case, additional detention would require new charges.
On June 19, Special Prosecutor Cho also requested the court to cancel the bail decision for former Minister Kim and to issue an additional detention warrant. Special Prosecutor Cho also urged for the prompt consolidation of the case.
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