Special Counsel for Insurrection Seeks Heavy Sentences for Military Leaders Who Took Part in Martial Law... "30 Years for Yeo In-hyung, 20 Years for Kwak Jong-geun"

[Financial News] The Special Counsel for Insurrection team, which is investigating allegations that military commanders took part in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's December 3 Martial Law declaration, asked the court to impose heavy sentences on them.
The Criminal Division 26 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Hyun-kyung, held the closing arguments on the 24th for former Commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command Yeo In-hyung, former Commander of the Capital Defense Command Lee Jin-woo, former Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Special Warfare Command Kwak Jong-geun, former Commander of the Defense Intelligence Command Sang-ho Moon, and former Chief of Staff of the Republic of Korea Army Park An-su, all of whom are charged with participating in a key role in insurrection.
First, the special counsel team requested 30 years in prison for former Commander Yeo and former Commander Lee.
The team criticized Yeo, saying, "He ignored the historical lessons of the May 17 insurrection and the purpose of reform, and used the military's counterintelligence function as a political tool for seizing power rather than for national security." It added, "As a result, this led to serious consequences that even affected the organization's existence, including the dismantling of the DCC."
It continued, "From the planning stage of this insurrection to the execution stage, Yeo moved in lockstep with Yoon Suk Yeol and Kim Yong-hyun, his high school seniors, and formed a united front with Lee Jin-woo and Kwak Jong-geun, who are his Korea Military Academy alumni, playing the largest role." It added, "He went beyond planning the insurrection in detail and took a leading role in the execution process, spearheading the trampling of constitutional institutions through both planning and implementation."




Regarding Lee, the team said, "Lee, who was responsible for capital defense, instead joined the insurrection and mobilized troops under his command." It added, "He reported on the procedures for action at the National Assembly, laying out the blueprint for the day of the insurrection, and he made his subordinates confront civilians. Compared with any other defendant, his method of committing the crime was extremely poor."
In Kwak's case, the team reflected the seriousness of the offense itself despite his confession during the investigation and trial. The special counsel team said, "He planned the troop deployment operation in great detail and with great care on the day of the martial law declaration," and requested a 20-year prison term, saying, "He took part in all of the core riotous acts that determined the success or failure of this insurrection."
For Park and Moon, the team asked the court to sentence them to 25 years and 20 years in prison, respectively.
The special counsel team stressed that these military leaders had a high need for severe punishment because they involved enlisted soldiers in the insurrection. It said, "The preparation and execution of martial law were not the result of the president's unilateral judgment alone. Even though they recognized this, these key military commanders actively took part from the planning and preparation stages in order to share power after a successful martial law declaration." It added, "This was a structural case in which most of the military personnel mobilized at the execution stage either went along with it or stood by passively."
It also appealed, saying, "Most of the defendants have not shown sincere reflection or a sense of responsibility, as they have not told the truth even up to the courtroom." It added, "The defendants have not been forgiven by the public, and they do not appear to have any intention or attitude to seek forgiveness. The public wants strong punishment, and it trusts the court, the last bastion of justice, to fulfill its role."
Park, as martial law commander immediately after the declaration of martial law, is accused of issuing Order No. 1, directing control of the National Assembly and troop deployment, and playing a central role in the insurrection while abusing his authority.
Yeo was indicted for conspiring in advance with Yoon Suk Yeol to declare martial law, ordering the seizure of NEC servers and the arrest of major political figures, and carrying out key tasks in the insurrection while abusing his authority and giving false testimony in court.
Lee is accused of drawing up specific operational plans to enter and seal off the National Assembly before and after the martial law declaration, and of trying to neutralize the legislature by actually deploying troops and attempting to forcibly drag out lawmakers.
Kwak was charged with sending Special Warfare Command troops by helicopter to the National Assembly and the NEC under orders from former Defense Minister Kim, occupying the facilities, and ordering them to carry live ammunition and deploy armed, thereby taking part in the riot aimed at undermining the constitutional order.
Moon is accused of carrying out insurrection-related duties and leaking military secrets by preparing and disclosing in advance a list of personnel assigned to martial law duties, and by mobilizing Defense Intelligence Command personnel immediately after the martial law declaration to occupy and seal off the NEC server room.

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