Kim Hyun-tae, the former commander of the Army's 707th Special Mission Group, has shared updates from his solitary confinement after being sentenced to 12 years in prison for his involvement in the National Assembly blockade during the December 3 martial law incident.
Recently, Jeon Han-gil, a conservative YouTuber and former history instructor, revealed Kim's letter on his YouTube channel. In the letter, Kim stated, "I think I slept well on the first day, perhaps because I was tired. The meals for breakfast and lunch were adequate," adding, "I have an hour of exercise time each day, so I plan to live regularly and come out healthier."
He continued, "I think of it as a deployment overseas and intend to stay healthy while I’m here, but being in solitary can feel a bit lonely," and requested Jeon to visit him.
Kim emphasized, "I will continue to move forward with confidence, like the horn of a rhinoceros, and truth and justice will ultimately prevail."
On August 27, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kim to 12 years in prison for charges related to treason. Alongside him, Lee Sang-hyun, a former brigadier general who led troops in the National Assembly blockade, received a 10-year sentence, while Kim Dae-woo, a former head of the Army's Counterintelligence Command involved in the arrest of politicians, was sentenced to 5 years.
The court stated, "You have betrayed the sacred duty of national security and territorial defense, using military power meant for the nation and its people for personal and specific group interests."
Kim denied the charges, claiming he was executing lawful orders. However, the court criticized him, stating, "You directly commanded the blockade of the National Assembly during the martial law and infiltrated troops into the sacred National Assembly. Despite this, you showed no remorse in court, asserting the legitimacy of the martial law, and have mocked the rule of law and judicial system through your YouTube channel by distorting facts and criticizing related individuals."
The court added, "This court has a duty to hold the defendants accountable for acts of treason that are unacceptable in a democratic society, and we must impose a punishment commensurate with the seriousness of the case to prevent any future attempts at treason."
Currently, Kim is reported to be in solitary confinement.
Since his dismissal in January, Kim has participated in conservative rallies with Jeon and has made claims of election fraud while defending martial law through his YouTube channel.
Jeon stated, "I will stand by Kim until the end," promising support for Kim's family following his imprisonment. He encouraged viewers to contribute to a 'voluntary subscription fee' on YouTube, stating, "This money will also be used to support Kim's family."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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