Former JCS Chairman Kim Myung-soo Faces Arrest Hearing Over Alleged Insurrection Involvement

Whether former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Kim Myung-soo, suspected of participating in an insurrection during the emergency martial law declaration, will be arrested is expected to be decided as early as today (June 15).

The Seoul Central District Court will hold a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant validity hearing) starting at 9:30 a.m. today for former JCS Chairman Kim, former JCS Combat Readiness Inspection Chief Lee Jae-sik, former JCS Vice Chairman Jung Jin-pal, and former Army Headquarters Policy Office Chief Kim Heung-jun.

Kim and the others are accused of participating in an insurrection by failing to stop the deployment of troops to the National Assembly and helping form the Martial Law Command while monitoring the situation from the JCS Command and Control Center during the declaration of emergency martial law on December 3, 2024.

The special investigation team booked Kim and the others on charges including engaging in important duties of insurrection as its "first recognized case" in March, about two weeks after its launch, and has continued its investigation since then.

The special investigation team believes that Kim, who held military command authority, failed to take appropriate measures despite being aware of the illegality of the martial law declaration and the deployment of troops to the National Assembly.

During the investigation, the team secured testimonies that Kim had received reports from staff members during the martial law period suggesting that "there are problems with the martial law declaration procedures" and that "troops deployed to the National Assembly must be withdrawn," as well as legal advice stating that "even if martial law is declared, military command authority remains with the JCS."

The special investigation team believes that despite hearing these opinions, Kim did not stop then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun or withdraw the troops, but instead participated in the martial law operation.

Furthermore, the team views Kim's issuance of fragmentary orders to the Special Warfare Command and the Capital Defense Command to "prioritize martial law duties" as evidence of his involvement in the insurrection.

However, Kim's side is completely denying the charges, claiming that the Defense Minister directly commanded and controlled the martial law troops as soon as martial law was declared, and that the Chairman was excluded from the decision-making process and was in a state where he could not exercise command authority over the martial law troops.

Jung, Kim Heung-jun, and Lee are also suspected of preparing for a second martial law declaration by checking available troops even after the National Assembly passed a resolution demanding the lifting of the emergency martial law.

When the Martial Law Command was formed, Jung served as Deputy Commander and Lee served as Chief of the Planning and Coordination Office.

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