Arrest Warrant for Former JCS Chairman Kim Myung-soo, Suspected of Involvement in Insurrection, Dismissed

The arrest warrant for former Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Kim Myung-soo, who is suspected of participating in the December 3 emergency martial law, has been dismissed.

Three other military officials facing the same charges—former JCS Deputy Chairman Jeong Jin-pal, former JCS Readiness Inspection Chief Lee Jae-sik, and former Army Headquarters Policy Office Chief Kim Heung-jun—have been arrested.

On Monday, Judge Bu Dong-sik of the Seoul Central District Court, who is in charge of warrant reviews, dismissed the arrest warrant for the former chairman, who faces charges including engaging in important duties of insurrection. The judge stated, "There is room for dispute regarding the primary criminal charges, necessitating the guarantee of the right to defense, and there is no concern of flight or destruction of evidence."

In contrast, the court issued arrest warrants for the three military officials, including the former deputy chairman, citing "concerns over the destruction of evidence."

Former Chairman Kim is accused of supporting the implementation of martial law after the December 3 declaration by failing to stop the deployment of military troops to the National Assembly and other locations, despite being aware of the situation from the JCS command and control center, and by participating in the formation of the Martial Law Command.

The comprehensive special investigation team believes that Kim participated in the insurrection by issuing fragmentary orders to the Army Special Warfare Command and the Capital Defense Command, instructing them to "prioritize martial law affairs."

Kim's side has completely denied these allegations.

Kim's legal representatives argue that the fragmentary orders were intended to limit the units under the command of the Minister of National Defense to the Special Warfare Command and the Capital Defense Command, thereby preventing other units from being drawn into the martial law enforcement.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.