Released Before Detention Expiry on the 14th
Bail Set at 100 Million Won with Residence Restrictions and Written Pledge Required
Indicted and Detained on Charges Including Major Insurrection Mission
Kim Yonggun, former Chief of the Military Police at the Third Army Command (Colonel), who was indicted on charges of premeditating the 12·3 Martial Law at a hamburger restaurant, will stand trial without detention.
According to legal sources on July 9, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 25 (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun) granted bail to former Colonel Kim on its own authority on July 7, subject to conditions such as a security deposit.
The court set bail conditions including a deposit of 100 million won, restrictions on residence, submission of a written pledge to appear at dates and locations designated by the court and not to destroy evidence, and compliance with specified conditions. The specified conditions require that he not meet or contact any persons involved in the case, and that he must report to the court in advance if he leaves the country or travels for more than three days.
Former Colonel Kim’s detention was scheduled to expire on July 14. Previously, the Special Investigation Headquarters for Martial Law (headed by Park Sehyun, Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office Chief Prosecutor) indicted Kim in January on charges of participating in a major insurrection mission and abuse of authority by obstructing the exercise of rights.
On the day martial law was declared, December 3 last year, Kim was one of the so-called “hamburger meeting” members who, at a Lotteria in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, together with Koo Samhoe, Commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade, and Bang Junghwan, former head of the Defense Ministry’s OPCON Transition Task Force, received operational orders related to the Joint Investigation Headquarters 2nd Investigation Division of the Martial Law Command from former Intelligence Commander Noh Sangwon.
Prosecutors believe that on the day martial law was declared, Kim participated in occupying the National Election Commission and attempting to arrest key staff. Kim’s trial has been merged with the cases of Kim Yonghyun, former Minister of National Defense, and former Commander Noh, who were also indicted for participating in a major insurrection mission in connection with the 12·3 Martial Law.
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