▲ Former Army Special Warfare Command 707th Special Mission Group Commander Kim Hyun-tae attends a trial related to charges of participating in an important mission in an insurrection at the Seoul Central District Court on April 14.
Prosecutors have demanded an 18-year prison sentence for former Army Special Warfare Command 707th Special Mission Group Commander Kim Hyun-tae (colonel), who was indicted on charges including participating in the blockade of the National Assembly during the December 3 emergency martial law decree.
The special counsel team led by independent counsel Cho Eun-seok made the sentencing request today (July 28) during the sentencing hearing for former Colonel Kim, who is charged with participating in a key mission of an insurrection, held before the 37-2 Criminal Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judges Oh Chang-sub, Ryu Chang-sung, and Jang Sung-hun).
A 15-year prison term was sought for former 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade Commander Lee Sang-hyun (brigadier general), who led troops and was involved in blockading the National Assembly alongside former Commander Kim Hyun-tae.
Military commanders at the time also faced heavy sentencing demands.
Former Defense Security Command Investigation Headquarters Chief Park Heon-soo (major general) and former Defense Counterintelligence Command Investigation Unit Chief Kim Dae-woo (brigadier general), both involved in operating the politician arrest squad, faced demands of 10 years and 12 years in prison, respectively.
In addition, former Defense Intelligence Command Planning Director Ko Dong-hee (colonel), who participated in the plan to occupy the National Election Commission and arrest its employees, was sought a 10-year prison sentence, while former Central News Group Commander Kim Bong-gyu (colonel) and former 100th Brigade 2nd Project Group Director Jung Sung-wook (colonel) each faced 12-year prison demands.
The special counsel team pointed out, "The defendants were convinced that the insurrection initiated by the president and the Minister of National Defense using martial law would succeed, and they actively carried out their assigned missions in order to share the spoils together."
They added, "The defendants' crimes utilized the nation's military force system for private purposes to render the exercise of authority by key constitutional bodies, such as the National Assembly and the National Election Commission, impossible, thereby attempting to destroy the constitutional order governing the functioning of the state."
Furthermore, criticizing their behavior of mechanically responding to superior orders, the team noted, "This can be compared to the case of an 'enforcer' who leads subordinates and commits violence under the instructions of a crime syndicate boss."
The special counsel team emphasized that punishing them is "a minimum legal measure to protect the democratic constitutional order and restore trust in the criminal justice system, in response to this insurrection crime that threatened the very survival of the Republic of Korea."
In particular, regarding former Commander Kim Hyun-tae—who smashed the National Assembly windows to break inside, carried out tasks such as arresting lawmakers, and cut off power to the main chamber—the team lashed out, saying, "It is an unprecedented act in the constitutional history of the Republic of Korea that no past dictator or soldier dared to execute."
These defendants originally stood trial in military courts while holding military status. After being dismissed or discharged due to their involvement in martial law and becoming civilians, their case was transferred to the Seoul Central District Court last January upon the request of the special counsel team.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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