Former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency National Assembly Security Unit Chief Mok Hyun-tae, who was sentenced to prison in the first trial for his involvement in blocking the National Assembly during the December 3 emergency martial law, has reportedly requested bail.

The 12-1 Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Lee Seung-chul, Cho Jin-goo, and Kim Min-a) will hold a bail hearing for former Chief Mok at 3:00 p.m. today.

Former Chief Mok was sentenced to three years in prison and taken into custody during the first trial on February 19 on charges of engaging in important missions of insurrection.

He filed for bail with the appellate court on October 6.

Former Chief Mok was brought to trial on charges of instructing duty officers at the National Assembly Security Unit to ban all civilians, including lawmakers, from entering the National Assembly following the declaration of emergency martial law.

The first trial court found him guilty, stating, "While ignoring requests from the National Assembly Speaker and the Secretary General of the National Assembly Secretariat to allow entry, he followed the instructions of former Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief Kim Bong-sik to have security unit personnel block everyone from entering the National Assembly, thereby obstructing lawmakers from exercising their deliberation and voting rights."

Following the first trial ruling, former Chief Mok was dismissed from his position along with former Chief Kim Bong-sik.

A bail hearing is also scheduled for today for Kim Hyun-tae, former commander of the 707th Special Mission Group of the Army Special Warfare Command (colonel), who was similarly sentenced to prison in the first trial on charges of participating in the blockade of the National Assembly.

The hearing will be handled by the 12-2 Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Cho Jin-goo, Kim Min-a, and Lee Seung-chul).

Former Commander Kim was sentenced to 12 years in prison and taken into custody in the first trial after being found guilty of entering the National Assembly with his troops during the martial law, blockading the main hall, and controlling access.

(Photo: Yonhap News)