"Remembered Password as a Miracle from God" Im Seonggeun Denies Perjury Charges at First Trial

After Stating "I Do Not Remember the Mobile Phone Password,"
Submitted It Upon Possibility of Arrest Warrant, Saying "I Remembered"

Im Seonggeun, former commander of the 1st Marine Division, who was brought to trial on charges of perjury before the National Assembly, denied all charges at his first hearing.

Im Seonggeun, former commander of the 1st Marine Division, appeared as a defendant before the Special Investigation Team for Fallen Marines on the 27th. 2025.10.27 Photo by Yoon Dongju

The 22nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Cho Hyungwoo) held the first preparatory hearing on the 23rd for Im, who is accused of perjury under the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly. A preparatory hearing is a procedure held before the formal trial to confirm the positions of both the defendant and the prosecution and to organize future proceedings. The defendant is not required to appear, but Im attended the hearing in person that day.

According to the Special Investigation Team, Im is accused of giving false testimony regarding the Ssangyong training at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee hearing in July last year, and of perjuring himself after taking the witness oath at the military court audit on October 17 last year by claiming, "I do not remember the password to my mobile phone."

After making this statement at the audit, and with speculation that the Special Investigation Team might seek an arrest warrant, Im later submitted his mobile phone and password to the team, saying, "I remembered the password as if by a miracle from God." The Special Investigation Team believes that Im deliberately concealed the password.

Additionally, at the same audit, Im testified that he did not know Lee Jongho, the former CEO of Black Pearl Invest who is known as a close associate of First Lady Kim Keonhee. The Special Investigation Team also considers this testimony to be perjury.

On this day, Im's legal team denied all charges presented by the Special Prosecutor Team led by Lee Myunghyun. They argued, "At the time, Im testified according to his recollection, so his statements were not false, and if he had known the mobile phone password, he would have provided it, but he simply did not remember. Im still does not know the former CEO Lee."

The court scheduled another preparatory hearing for the 28th of next month.