During the emergency martial law on December 3, it is estimated that 12 military helicopters were dispatched to the National Assembly. However, claims have emerged that only about four helicopters are recorded in the data preserved by the Special Warfare Command's command center. There are also allegations that among the multiple units on standby, only one unit's records have been confirmed.
If some of the martial law forces operated without following the normal command structure, it is crucial for investigative agencies to determine who issued those orders.
Kim Hyun-seok, who has participated in military communications system development for 27 years, stated in an interview with Aju Economy on July 21, "Based on reports and eyewitness accounts during the emergency martial law, it is understood that 12 helicopters were heading to the National Assembly, but only about four are confirmed in the command center's data. The reasons for the lack of records for the other helicopters' movements need to be clarified within the normal command structure."
Kim claimed that during his visits to various units for technical support after the emergency martial law, he received testimonies indicating that the satellite-based command and control system (PRE) was not used that day, attributed to 'orders from above.'
He explained, "Initially, I asked whether the equipment was functioning normally. However, I received consistent responses from multiple units that they did not use PRE and that there were orders from higher-ups to refrain from doing so."
"If Satellite PRE Was Functioning, Helicopter Situations Should Have Been Confirmed at Command Center"
Kim's primary concern is the discrepancy between the actual number of helicopters deployed and the command records. According to military officials, the satellite PRE transmits the locations of units and helicopters to the command center, sharing commands and situations. Kim noted that if this system was functioning normally, the helicopters' locations and movements should have been confirmed at the command center.He suggested several reasons for the lack of records for some helicopters: the possibility that the equipment was not brought, that it was brought but not functioning, or that alternative communication methods were used instead of the normal command network.
Kim explained that by comparing the records of satellite PRE issuance and return for each helicopter, equipment connection logs, flight records, and the Special Warfare Command's situation logs, it would be possible to determine which scenario is accurate.
Additionally, Kim pointed out that not only the helicopters but also the records of units that were fully armed and on standby that day differ from the actual scale.
The preserved data only records one unit among those on standby. Even if a unit did not deploy, it is typical for operational standby units to have their operational records documented in the command structure.
He stated, "Units that received orders to be on standby while fully armed are also subject to operational control. If only one unit is recorded while many were on standby, it is necessary to verify how the other units were commanded."
He also claimed that movements of some units dispatched to the National Assembly, the National Election Commission, and facilities related to broadcaster Kim Eo-jun are not confirmed in the data.
During his visits to relevant units for equipment checks and technical support after the martial law, Kim reported hearing from some officials that they did not use PRE during the martial law due to orders from above.
He emphasized, "If it was a judgment of one unit or a malfunction of equipment, the explanations should differ among units. If multiple units provided the same response, we need to confirm what orders were issued from which command level."
He added, "The core issue of this incident is not the PRE equipment itself, but whether there were orders to prevent its use. If such orders existed, it must be clarified who made the decision and how it was communicated to each unit."
Joint Chiefs of Staff Claims No Flight Records, But Command Center Data Needs Investigation
The Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that they do not possess data related to low-altitude flights in the Seocho District of Seoul during the emergency martial law. However, Kim contended that the command center data he reviewed includes records of helicopter operations.Previously, the Joint Chiefs of Staff responded that there were no records of helicopters carrying martial law forces flying low over the densely populated area of Bangbae-dong after entering the metropolitan area, as reported by Aju Economy in July of last year.
Kim stated, "The command center data appears to contain information related to helicopter operations that were transmitted to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. If the Joint Chiefs of Staff claim to have no data, we need to determine whether the transmission did not occur or if the data was not preserved after transmission."
Former allied commanders, corps commanders, and former key personnel of the Joint Chiefs of Staff all agreed that if the military command structure was functioning normally, operational information collected at the Special Warfare Command's command center would typically be linked to the Joint Chiefs of Staff's situation system. There is a need to verify whether the command center records and the Joint Chiefs of Staff server records align.
According to Kim, the battlefield management system at the Special Warfare Command typically undergoes an initialization process after operations conclude for the next mission. However, some operational data from the martial law period was preserved, suggesting that an internal military official may have kept it as evidence.
He remarked, "It seems someone ensured that the data from the day of the martial law was preserved. Without that data, it would have been difficult to compare the actual unit movements and command records."
Legal experts have suggested that to verify the authenticity and evidentiary value of the data, an investigation by a military agency with the authority to secure original documents, server creation records, and modification histories is necessary.
Kim concluded, "If some martial law forces did not appear in the official command network, we need to clarify whether it was merely an operational issue with the equipment or a result of a different command method. Comparing the original records remaining at the Special Warfare Command and the Joint Chiefs of Staff would help restore the actual command structure of the martial law forces at that time."