The second special prosecutor team has indicted former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Myung-soo and three others on charges of insurrection-related offenses, stating they violated the military's constitutional obligation of political neutrality. The indictment specifically accuses Kim of ignoring repeated recommendations from his staff to withdraw troops from the National Assembly during the emergency martial law declared on December 3. Kim has denied all allegations.
During a press briefing on July 3 at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Special Prosecutor Kim Jung-min announced, "We have indicted Kim Myung-soo on charges of insurrection-related duties and subordinate crimes without detention. Former Vice Chairman Jeong Jin-pal, former Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Inspection Division Lee Jae-sik, and former Army Headquarters Policy Director Kim Heung-jun have been indicted with detention on insurrection-related charges."
The special prosecutor's team stated that Kim Myung-soo issued orders prioritizing martial law operations for the Special Forces and the Capital Defense Command, thereby supporting illegal martial law activities and facilitating the establishment of a martial law command by sending numerous Joint Chiefs of Staff personnel to assist.
The indictment also includes allegations that Kim ignored recommendations from his staff to withdraw troops deployed to the National Assembly. Special Prosecutor Kim noted, "(Kim Myung-soo) claimed he does not remember the recommendation to withdraw troops, but this contradicts the statements of other staff members and lacks credibility."
Explaining the events surrounding the declaration of martial law on December 3, Special Prosecutor Kim stated that they have secured multiple testimonies indicating that Joint Chiefs of Staff members advised Kim that 'the martial law declaration process is unusual' and 'it is dangerous for troops to enter the National Assembly, so they should be withdrawn.'
Regarding Jeong, Lee, and Kim, the special prosecutor's team stated, "They assisted the illegal proclamation of martial law and supported the martial law mission for the Capital Defense Command and Special Forces. They also played a significant role in the insurrection aimed at undermining the constitution, even considering additional troop deployments after the National Assembly passed a motion to lift martial law."
The special prosecutor's team countered claims that these individuals were unaware of the insurrectionary purpose behind the president's declaration of martial law on December 3, stating, "According to our investigation, there is substantial evidence to the contrary."
The team emphasized, "We will ensure rigorous legal accountability for military leaders involved in insurrection, regardless of their rank or position, to establish a principle that they will face severe legal consequences."
In contrast, Kim Myung-soo's legal team issued a statement on the same day, arguing, "The indictment is based on unverified facts and unreasonable legal interpretations, disregarding objective facts and the legal structure of military command."
They added, "Kim Myung-soo was thoroughly excluded from the planning and preparation for the martial law and did not participate in it on the day of the declaration. Instead, he recommended an early resolution of the situation. We suspect that the special prosecutor's decision to indict him is not based on facts and law but rather on preconceived notions or ulterior motives."
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor's team is investigating former Seoul Central District Prosecutor Lee Chang-soo as a suspect in the alleged cover-up of the Deutsche Motors investigation. This marks Lee's third time being summoned for questioning.
The allegations center around the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office's handling of the stock manipulation case involving Deutsche Motors, in which Kim Geon-hee, the wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, was implicated. The office reportedly failed to conduct a proper investigation and decided not to prosecute Kim.
At that time, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutor's Office concluded that Kim Geon-hee had entrusted her account to Kwon Oh-soo, the former CEO of Deutsche Motors, believing he would generate profits, and was unaware of any market manipulation. Consequently, they dismissed the capital market law violation charges. Instead of summoning Kim for questioning at their office, they conducted a private investigation at the facilities of the Presidential Security Service.
The special prosecutor's team suspects that the prosecution improperly intervened in the investigation process by opting for a private inquiry instead of a formal summons and ultimately deciding not to prosecute. They are currently questioning former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung and the leadership of the Central District Prosecutor's Office at that time.
On July 1, the special prosecutor's team summoned Kim Min-goo, the former head of the Daejeon District Prosecutor's Office, and on the previous day, they questioned Choi Jae-hoon, the former head of the Anti-Corruption Investigation Division 2, and Seo Min-seok, the former deputy head of the division. They have denied all allegations, asserting that the decision of no charges was made after legal review by the investigation team.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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