Former Defense Intelligence Commander Sangwon Noh Again Gets Two Years in Prison on Appeal Over '2nd Investigation Division Plot'... "Sentence Not Excessive"

Former Commander of the Defense Intelligence Command Sangwon Noh was again sentenced to two years in prison on appeal for receiving personal information on Defense Intelligence Command agents. Prosecutors said he obtained the data to form a "2nd Investigation Division" to probe alleged election fraud during the December 3 Martial Law period.
On the 12th, Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court, presided over by Judge Lee Seunghan, sentenced Noh to two years in prison, the same as in the first trial, for violating the Personal Information Protection Act and for bribery mediation under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes. The court also ordered him to forfeit 24.9 million won.
After retiring from the military and becoming a civilian, Noh was indicted for receiving military intelligence while pushing to create the 2nd Investigation Division under the pretext of investigating alleged election fraud. He was also charged with exploiting his personal ties with officials involved in military personnel decisions. Between August and October 2024, he allegedly told a colonel at the Defense Intelligence Command and the commander of the Army 2nd Armored Brigade that he would help them get promoted, and in return demanded and received 20 million won in cash and department store gift certificates worth about 6 million won.
In the first trial last year, the court found all charges proven and sentenced him to two years in prison and ordered the forfeiture of 24.9 million won. It ruled him guilty on all counts, noting that he tried to interfere in military personnel matters as a civilian and demanded and received money and valuables from junior officers.
The appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision. It stated that, as a retired civilian, Noh invoked his personal relationships with those holding personnel authority in the military to intervene in the careers of junior officers and accepted money under the guise of arranging promotions. The court said this conduct showed that "the offense is grave and his culpability is not light." It added, "He has consistently blamed junior officers or claimed that their statements are false, so the circumstances after the crime are also unfavorable," but concluded there were no additional factors that would warrant changing the sentence.
Noh’s side argued that he did not meet junior officers around August 2024 to demand or receive gift certificates, but the court rejected this claim. His assertion that the selection of Defense Intelligence Command agents was aimed at preventing mass defections, rather than forming an NEC investigation team, was also dismissed in light of his prior statements and his actions at the time.
Separately, Noh has also been indicted on charges including participation in important duties related to insurrection. He is scheduled to receive a first-instance verdict on the 19th, alongside former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
scottchoi15@fnnews.com Choi Eunsol Reporter