‘DCC Blacklist’ Yeo In-hyung: “Personnel Document Was Ordered by Shin Won-sik... It Was Not Preparation for Martial Law”

[Financial News] Yeo In-hyung, the former commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, who is suspected of creating a “military blacklist” to fill the military leadership with “forces sympathetic to martial law” during the December 3 emergency martial law incident, remained silent on the witness stand at his appellate trial. Because he is scheduled to stand trial in a separate case, he is exercising his right to refuse to testify as a witness—a strategy to counter the special prosecutor’s decision to split the charges into separate prosecutions. However, he drew a clear distinction regarding the preparation of the document itself, saying it was ordered by former Defense Minister Shin Won-sik.
The Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 12-1, presided over by Judge Ryu Young-wook, held the 16th hearing on the appeal involving former President Yoon Suk Yeol and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on charges of leading an insurrection and performing critical roles in an insurrection. The court questioned former commander Yeo as a witness.
The central issue at the hearing was a personnel-screening document on generals prepared by the DCC’s Personnel Security Office between March and September 2024. The special prosecutor alleges that Yeo instructed then-head Na Seung-min to review personnel appointments on the premise that the commanders who led the martial-law operation—including the commanders of the Capital Defense Command, Special Warfare Command and DCC—would remain in their posts. He is accused of excluding military generals who opposed martial law from promotions and other personnel decisions.
The special prosecutor particularly pointed out that personnel materials handed to Yeo by then-Second Deputy Director of the Office of National Security (ONS) In Sung-hwan in September 2024 were used to create the “blacklist.” This would mean that the government and military discussed personnel appointments in preparation for martial law. The special prosecutor pressed him, asking, “Did the list delivered by the ONS second deputy director include people who were to be denied promotion?” and “After hearing the criteria for classifying Army personnel and completing the document, did you report it to then-Minister Kim Yong-hyun?”
Yeo refused to answer any questions, saying, “I have been separately indicted and am standing trial in a separate case.” The allegations involving the exclusion and surveillance of military personnel were separated by the second comprehensive special prosecutor’s investigation and charged as abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights; the first trial is under way. Yeo also did not attend the preparatory hearing held the same day because defendants are not required to appear at proceedings held to confirm the positions of both sides.
Regarding the circumstances behind the document’s preparation, Yeo drew a clear line by saying it was ordered by former Minister Shin Won-sik. Referring to Shin’s denial in court, Yeo raised his voice and said, “Minister Shin’s testimony is the exact opposite of the truth,” adding, “I am almost afraid that if I speak too forcefully, Minister Shin could be indicted for perjury.”
Yeo also pointed out that the document recorded how General Kang Ho-pil expressed his intention to retire after opposing the push for martial law immediately following a July trip to Hawaii. He stressed, “The special prosecutor’s claim that this was a document prepared in anticipation of martial law does not add up. The mere fact that a person who opposed martial law was included on the list of candidates for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shows that.” In effect, he strongly denied the allegation that the document was preparatory work for martial law.
In addition, Yeo is accused of ordering DCC personnel in November 2023 to identify military personnel records and provide the Presidential Security Service with information on 59 people affiliated with the DCC’s Personnel Security Office, including their places of origin. He was also charged with allegedly ordering background checks in October 2024 on about 25 military judges, including reviews of their personal information and disciplinary records, to determine their inclinations.
[email protected] Chang-hoon Lee Reporter