The appeal trial for Moon Sang-ho, a former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, who was sentenced to prison for leaking information about intelligence agents to former commander Roh Sang-won before the declaration of martial law on December 3, is set to begin next month.
The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 12-1, presided over by judges Lee Seung-cheol, Jo Jin-goo, and Kim Min-ah, held a preparatory hearing on August 31 for Moon, along with former Colonels Kim Bong-kyu and Jeong Seong-wook, who are also facing charges of military secrecy violations. The first hearing is scheduled for September 15, with a second hearing planned for September 29 to conduct witness examinations.
The court has left open the possibility of closed hearings, similar to the first trial. The special prosecutor's team, led by Jo Eun-seok, requested that the proceedings be held in private, stating, "The evidence based on the list of intelligence agents is military confidential, so we ask for a closed session." The defense team responded in agreement, saying, "We have no objections." The court indicated that it would finalize the decision after discussions before the start of the hearing.
The Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 12-1, presided over by judges Lee Seung-cheol, Jo Jin-goo, and Kim Min-ah, held a preparatory hearing on August 31 for Moon, along with former Colonels Kim Bong-kyu and Jeong Seong-wook, who are also facing charges of military secrecy violations. The first hearing is scheduled for September 15, with a second hearing planned for September 29 to conduct witness examinations.
The court has left open the possibility of closed hearings, similar to the first trial. The special prosecutor's team, led by Jo Eun-seok, requested that the proceedings be held in private, stating, "The evidence based on the list of intelligence agents is military confidential, so we ask for a closed session." The defense team responded in agreement, saying, "We have no objections." The court indicated that it would finalize the decision after discussions before the start of the hearing.
This hearing serves as a preparatory session to organize the issues based on the opinions of the special prosecutor and the defense, and the defendants are not required to attend. However, former Colonel Jeong was present at the hearing. Discussions included future hearing dates, the possibility of closed sessions, and coordination of evidence opinions and witness examination plans between the special prosecutor and the defense.
Moon and others are accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to leak the names of over 40 intelligence agents to Roh, in an attempt to form an unofficial organization called the "Second Investigation Team" to investigate allegations of election fraud.
In the previous trial, Moon was sentenced to two years in prison, while former Colonel Kim received a sentence of one year and six months, and former Colonel Jeong was sentenced to one year. The court noted, "The defendants, as military personnel handling confidential information, should have understood its seriousness better than anyone else, yet they leaked it to Roh."
Former Minister Kim, charged with the same offense, was sentenced to three years in prison in the first trial, and Roh's two-year sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.
Moon and others are accused of conspiring with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to leak the names of over 40 intelligence agents to Roh, in an attempt to form an unofficial organization called the "Second Investigation Team" to investigate allegations of election fraud.
In the previous trial, Moon was sentenced to two years in prison, while former Colonel Kim received a sentence of one year and six months, and former Colonel Jeong was sentenced to one year. The court noted, "The defendants, as military personnel handling confidential information, should have understood its seriousness better than anyone else, yet they leaked it to Roh."
Former Minister Kim, charged with the same offense, was sentenced to three years in prison in the first trial, and Roh's two-year sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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