Choi Sang-mok: "Yoon Said 'There's No Turning Back'"... Special Prosecutor Seeks 3-Year Prison Term for Sangwon Noh [Comprehensive]

[Financial News] Choi Sang-mok, former Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Economy and Finance, testified that on December 3 last year, when martial law was declared, he tried to dissuade former President Yoon Suk Yeol, but Yoon stated, "Everything is ready, so there is no turning back." Additionally, the Special Prosecutor Team for Insurrection and Treason, led by Cho Eun-seok, requested a prison sentence for former KDIC Commander Sangwon Noh.
On the 17th, Choi appeared as a witness at the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 33 (Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan) for the trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is charged with participating in major duties related to insurrection. Choi stated, "When I first heard about martial law, I was shocked and thought it was unimaginable, so I remember saying, 'No, absolutely not, please reconsider.'" He added that Yoon showed little reaction at the time.
Choi further testified that he later visited Yoon's office and reiterated, "Under no circumstances should martial law be declared. Our country's international credibility will plummet, and the economy will collapse." However, he recalled Yoon responding, "As president, I have made my decision. Everything is ready, so there is no turning back."
However, Choi admitted that he was not fully confident in his recollection of the events. When the judge asked whether he had received documents related to martial law, Choi replied, "I remember receiving them," but added, "My memory is fragmented and incomplete." He explained that he was too preoccupied with responding to the foreign exchange market to focus on the contents. When the judge pointed out that the documents contained shocking content for anyone familiar with the law, such as 'blocking funds related to the National Assembly' and 'emergency legislative bodies,' Choi commented, "I later thought that perhaps someone unfamiliar with the budget process had drafted them."
Choo Kyung-ho, former People Power Party floor leader, who was scheduled to testify in the afternoon, stated, "As an arrest warrant has been requested for me, I must unfortunately refuse to testify in any capacity."
Meanwhile, the first trial verdict for former KDIC Commander Sangwon Noh, who is accused of receiving information on KDIC agents while forming the '2nd Investigation Division' to investigate alleged election fraud during martial law, is scheduled for the 15th of next month.
On this day, the Special Prosecutor Team requested a three-year prison sentence, forfeiture of 23.9 million won received during the promotion solicitation process, and confiscation of seized department store gift certificates at the sentencing hearing for Noh at the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 21 (Presiding Judge Lee Hyun-bok) on charges of violating the Personal Information Protection Act and the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes.
The Special Prosecutor emphasized, "Although the defendant is a civilian, he used his status as a former commander to collect sensitive information such as real names, academic backgrounds, and specialties of frontline security personnel through incumbent commanders and colonels. This went beyond mere personal information disclosure and constituted advance preparation for an insurrection that threatened national security." The prosecution also argued that Noh orchestrated the entire process and involved active-duty military officers in the martial law plan, making the nature of his crime particularly egregious.
In contrast, Noh's attorney countered, "The defendant is a civilian with no authority over agent placement or selection," and denied any illicit intent. The defense argued that Noh was merely a conduit in the process of relaying orders from former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, and questioned the credibility of related testimony. In his final statement, Noh expressed remorse, saying, "I feel heavy-hearted that Sang-ho Moon, former KDIC commander, and others have been indicted and suffered hardships in connection with the Personal Information Protection Act violation case."
The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict at 2 p.m. on December 15. Noh is accused of receiving military information about KDIC agents during the formation of the 2nd Investigation Division to investigate alleged election fraud between September and December last year, while acting as a civilian, and of accepting significant cash and department store gift certificates from active-duty military officers in exchange for promotion solicitations.

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