Ex-707 Special Mission Group Commander Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison Over Martial Law

Prison sentences have been handed down to former military commanders indicted for participating in the blockade of the National Assembly and other activities during the December 3 emergency martial law incident.

The 37th Criminal Settlement Division of the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Kim Hyun-tae, former commander of the Army Special Warfare Command's 707 Special Mission Group, to 12 years in prison on charges including engaging in critical missions of an insurrection.

Lee Sang-hyun, former commander of the Special Warfare Command's 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade, who was charged with leading troops to blockade the National Assembly during the martial law, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Kim Dae-woo, former head of the counterintelligence investigation unit at the Defense Counterintelligence Command, who was involved in operating a politician arrest squad, was sentenced to five years in prison.

In addition, Kim Bong-gyu, former head of the Central Public Information Unit, and Jung Sung-wook, former head of the 2nd Business Unit of the 100th Brigade, who participated in the occupation of the National Election Commission and plans to arrest its employees, were each sentenced to seven years in prison.

The court immediately placed former Commander Kim Hyun-tae, former Brigade Commander Lee Sang-hyun, and former Unit Head Kim Dae-woo under court custody, citing risks of flight and destruction of evidence.

However, Park Heon-su, former head of the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters, and Go Dong-hee, former planning director of the Defense Intelligence Command, who were indicted alongside them, were acquitted on the grounds that intent to commit insurrection could not be proven.

The court determined that former Commander Kim played a critical role by deploying elite troops to the National Assembly via helicopters and directly commanding forces in an attempt to enter the main assembly hall.

The court also rebuked him, stating, "Former Commander Kim has shown no remorse for his crimes, claiming that the martial law was justified, and even went so far as to mock the rule of law and the judicial system by distorting facts and criticizing individuals involved through YouTube."

It further emphasized, "A clear warning must be sent through punishment commensurate with the gravity of the case so that no one will ever attempt or participate in an insurrection again."

Representatives for former Commander Kim filed an appeal immediately following the sentencing, stating, "We were prepared to submit it right away."

(Reported by Park Se-won | Video by Ryu Ji-su | Design by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.