Former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung Faces Arrest Hearing Over Alleged Insurrection Involvement

[Anchor]

Shim Woo-jung, the former Prosecutor General accused of participating in an insurrection, is at a crossroads regarding his arrest. The pre-arrest interrogation for the former Prosecutor General took place this morning, July 16, and a decision on whether to detain him is expected as early as tonight.

Reporter Jeon Yeonnam has the story.

[Reporter]

At approximately 9:15 a.m. today, former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, who faces charges of performing important duties in an insurrection and abuse of power, appeared at the Seoul Central District Court for his pre-arrest interrogation.

[Shim Woo-jung / Former Prosecutor General: (Do you admit to the charges of participating in the insurrection?) I will explain the situation during the martial law declaration and the subsequent events in detail.]

Shim is accused of reviewing the dispatch of prosecutors to the Martial Law Joint Investigation Headquarters under the direction of former Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae on December 3, 2024, the day the emergency martial law was declared.

He is also suspected of being involved in discussing response measures for crimes falling under the jurisdiction of military courts immediately after the martial law declaration and participating in the drafting of a document titled "Trial Jurisdiction Under Emergency Martial Law."

The abuse of power charges against Shim also include his decision to waive an immediate appeal following the cancellation of the arrest of former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Previously, former President Yoon, who was arrested and indicted on charges including leading an insurrection, filed a request for the cancellation of his arrest in March of last year, arguing that the prosecution's indictment was made after the expiration of his detention period. The court granted this request.

At that time, Shim directed the release of former President Yoon without filing an immediate appeal after holding meetings with senior prosecutors at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office.

Meanwhile, a pre-arrest interrogation for Jeon Moo-gon, former head of the Planning and Coordination Department at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, is scheduled for this afternoon.

Jeon is accused of being involved in the drafting of the document on trial jurisdiction under emergency martial law and discussions regarding trial jurisdiction while assisting Shim during the martial law period.

The decisions on whether to arrest both Shim and Jeon are expected to be reached as early as tonight.

(Reported by Yang Hyun-chul | Video by Shin Se-eun)

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