Prosecution Seeks 1-Year Prison Sentence in Appeal Trial for Former Defense Security Command Chief over Sewol Ferry Victims' Family Surveillance

Main Gate of Danwon High School located in Ansan, Gyeonggi-do

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The prosecution has requested a prison sentence in the appellate trial for Kim Byung-chul, former head of the 3rd Division of the Defense Security Command (Army Brigadier General), who was sentenced to a suspended prison term by a military court on charges of spying on civilians, including the families of the Sewol ferry disaster victims.

On the 24th, at the appellate trial sentencing hearing held before the 2nd Criminal Appeals Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Lee Gwan-yong), the prosecution stated, "We request the court to impose a one-year prison sentence, as in the original sentencing."

In its sentencing opinion, the prosecution pointed out, "This case involves the Defense Security Command, which must uphold political neutrality above all, conducting indiscriminate intelligence-gathering activities targeting civilians, including the families of the Sewol ferry victims who were in distress, for the purpose of protecting the regime, and using it as a means to pressure public opinion. Nevertheless, the defendant faithfully followed orders from superiors and shows no remorse, claiming he did not know it was illegal."

In response, Kim’s defense attorney argued, "The defendant never instructed the 310 Defense Security Unit members to extensively collect intelligence on the movements of the Sewol ferry victims' families or other civilians. When examining the specific reported content and circumstances, it can be seen as merely understanding the situation of the Sewol ferry victims' families and cannot be considered meaningless."

Kim himself pleaded not guilty, stating, "As the commander of the Defense Security Unit at the time, I carried out my duties under the command of the headquarters in response to a national crisis. Ansan was declared an emergency disaster area, and the nation’s available resources were fully mobilized. No one could have thought there would be any problem with carrying out the mission."

Kim Byung-chul is accused of abusing his authority and obstructing the exercise of rights by spying on the students of Danwon High School in Ansan and the families of the Sewol ferry victims while serving as the commander of the 310 Defense Security Unit responsible for the Ansan area during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.

Kim, who was arrested and indicted by the military special investigation team, was sentenced in the first trial held at the ordinary military court to one year in prison with a two-year suspension. He was discharged in February this year.

Meanwhile, on the same day in court, Kang, the mother of a Danwon High School student who lost their life in the Sewol ferry disaster, appeared as a witness and pleaded for a severe punishment for Kim.

Kang said, "I hope a precedent will be set so that soldiers, who are supposed to protect and safeguard the people, will never again harm the people at the front lines solely for the commander-in-chief."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.