On July 24, the special prosecution team presented its closing arguments in the Seoul Central District Court regarding charges of insurrection against former Army Counterintelligence Command Chief Lee In-hyung and former Capital Defense Command Chief Lee Jin-woo, seeking 30-year prison sentences for each. Former Army Chief of Staff Park An-soo was recommended for 25 years, while former Special Warfare Command Chief Kwak Jong-geun and former Military Intelligence Command Chief Moon Sang-ho each faced 20-year sentences.
The prosecution stated, "The defendants' insurrection activities disregarded the lawful procedures established by the Constitution and aimed to incapacitate the functions of state institutions, fundamentally undermining the core values of democracy. They used the military to participate in insurrection for personal gain, reducing the military to a private army for insurrectionist forces."
They further noted, "There is a saying in military texts: 'Life is death, and death is life.' This means that in the battlefield, one should not question orders but be prepared to fight under the command of their leaders. The unconstitutional and illegal orders from the defendants have shaken the trust in the military's command structure."
The prosecution identified Lee In-hyung as the "brain" behind the insurrection preparations, stating, "From planning to execution, he acted in concert with his high school seniors Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Yong-hyun, and formed a united front with fellow Korea Military Academy alumni Lee Jin-woo and Kwak Jong-geun, playing a significant role."
They also accused the defendants of using military counterintelligence functions for political purposes aimed at seizing power, stating, "They displayed shameless behavior, showing no remorse for the counterintelligence personnel mobilized under their orders for this incident."
Regarding Lee Jin-woo, the prosecution said he actively commanded military police to arrest citizens gathered at the National Assembly when it became difficult to block them, and ordered the removal of lawmakers from the assembly. Kwak Jong-geun was noted for deploying troops to the National Assembly, the Democratic Party headquarters, and the Central Election Commission in Gwacheon, participating in key acts of insurrection.
In contrast, Lee In-hyung's defense argued, "The defendant consistently opposed the declaration of martial law to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and only passively carried out his duties after it was declared. While there may have been some obstacles caused during the execution of orders from the Minister of National Defense, there was no intent or awareness to incapacitate those functions for an extended period."
In his final statement, Lee In-hyung said, "As a commander, I will take responsibility for what I must, and the truth will be revealed. I believe the injustices faced by my subordinates will be made known as they are."
Lee Jin-woo denied giving orders to block the National Assembly or to remove lawmakers, while Moon Sang-ho claimed he was thoroughly used by the Minister of National Defense and former Military Intelligence Chief Noh Sang-won. Conversely, Kwak Jong-geun, who acknowledged his charges, expressed deep regret for deploying his beloved subordinates to the National Assembly and the Election Commission during the martial law declaration, stating, "I apologize to the public and will take full responsibility for my mistakes."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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