The second comprehensive special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, will begin court proceedings next month regarding indictments stemming from investigations into allegations left by the third special prosecutor. Key cases, including involvement in martial law, military blacklists, and the leak of investigation information related to deceased Marines, have been scheduled for hearings, putting the special prosecutor's ability to prove guilt to the test.
According to legal sources on the 25th, the court will hold trials and preparatory hearings for the comprehensive special prosecutor's indictments in September. Article 11 of the Special Prosecutor Act mandates that first-instance rulings on cases indicted by the special prosecutor must be delivered within six months from the date of prosecution.
The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 38-3, presided over by judges Choi Young-gak, Jang Seong-jin, and Jeong Su-young, will hold the first preparatory hearing for Lee Eun-woo, former head of the Korea Policy Broadcasting Institute (KTV), on September 9, regarding charges of insurrection propaganda.
Lee is accused of repeatedly broadcasting news asserting the legitimacy of martial law and proclamations from December 3 to 13, 2024, while blocking and deleting content critical of the martial law. The special prosecutor has determined that the end of the insurrection is not the date of the lifting of martial law but rather the date of the passage of the impeachment motion against former President Yoon Suk Yeol on December 14, thus categorizing these broadcasts as a single act of insurrection propaganda.
On the same day, the court will also conduct the first preparatory hearing for former Korea Coast Guard Commissioner Kim Jong-wook and former Planning and Coordination Officer Ahn Seong-sik, who are charged with abuse of authority and aiding insurrection. They are accused of augmenting personnel from the Coast Guard's joint investigation headquarters and preparing detention facilities during the martial law period.
On September 10, the trial regarding military blacklist allegations against former National Intelligence Service Director Yeo In-hyung will commence. The Criminal Division 32 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Ryu Kyung-jin, will hold the first preparatory hearing for Yeo's abuse of authority charges.
Yeo is accused of classifying military generals based on their connections with current ruling party figures, their regions, and schools for personnel decisions. He is also alleged to have compiled a list of about 30 military judges and prosecutors with ties to former Democratic Party lawmaker Choi Kang-wook.
On the same day, the court will also hold the first preparatory hearing for former Presidential Office Civil Service Secretary Lee Si-won and former National Security Office Defense Secretary Lim Gi-hoon, who were indicted for leaking police search plans during the investigation into the death of Corporal Chae Soo-geun. The special prosecutor believes that the search plan from the Gyeongbuk Police Agency for the Marine Corps' 1st Division was communicated to the Marine Corps through Lee and Lim, as well as officials from the Ministry of National Defense.
The first preparatory hearing for Hong Chang-sik, the Ministry of National Defense's legal management officer, regarding charges of dereliction of duty, will be held on September 15. Hong is accused of failing to provide necessary legal advice to Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and the Vice Minister during the martial law period.
On September 16, the Criminal Division 38-1 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by judges Jang Seong-jin, Jeong Su-young, and Choi Young-gak, will conduct the first preparatory hearing for former President Yoon and former National Security Office Director Shin Won-sik.
Former President Yoon is accused of instructing officials from the National Security Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to convey messages justifying martial law to key allied nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the European Union, immediately after the declaration of martial law. Former Director Shin is charged with conspiring with former President Yoon and former Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo to secure external support for the legitimacy of the insurrection.
On September 17, the first hearings for the involvement of the National Fire Agency and the Ministry of Justice's Corrections Headquarters in the martial law case will take place. The Criminal Division 37-1 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by judges Jang Seong-hoon, Oh Chang-seop, and Ryu Chang-seong, will hear the case against former Fire Agency Commissioner Heo Seok-gon and former Deputy Commissioner Lee Young-pal, who are charged with significant duties related to insurrection.
The two are accused of relaying instructions from former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min to lower-level agencies regarding media blackouts and water supply interruptions. On the same day, the Criminal Division 37-3 will also hold the first preparatory hearing for former Corrections Headquarters Director Shin Yong-hae, who is accused of preparing for the detention of those violating the proclamation and directing a review of emergency parole measures based on instructions from former Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae.
As the special prosecutor's investigation concludes, the focus of the cases will shift to maintaining the prosecution and the court's judgment. In the insurrection cases, a key issue will be whether the defendants were aware of the intent to disrupt the constitutional order while participating in the actions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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