Prosecution Indicts and Detains Cho Hyun-cheon on Suspected Order to Draft 'Martial Law Document'

Former Defense Security Command Commander Cho Hyun-cheon, a key figure in the suspected martial law documents before the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, is speaking as he is escorted to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office after arriving through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the morning of the 29th of last month.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Former Commander of the Republic of Korea Army's Defense Security Command, Cho Hyun-cheon, was indicted on the 14th on charges including political interference during his tenure. This came 16 days after his return from the United States at the end of last month.

The prosecution plans to conduct a full-scale investigation into the so-called martial law and military command order review documents during the impeachment trial of former President Park Geun-hye, targeting Cho, who is on trial while in custody. The Criminal Division 5 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Byung-ju) indicted Cho in custody on charges of abuse of power and political interference under the Military Criminal Act on the afternoon of the same day.

According to the prosecution, Cho is accused of ordering his subordinates to prepare reports related to the 2016 election for the chairman of the Federation of Korean Freedom Associations. He is also accused of mobilizing Defense Security Command agents to hold rallies supporting former President Park and publishing columns and advertisements in the same year.

On the 29th of last month, the prosecution arrested Cho at Incheon International Airport upon his return after 5 years and 3 months, and two days later obtained an arrest warrant on the two charges. The prosecution plans to focus its investigative efforts on the main allegation concerning the martial law documents.

Cho is suspected of having formed a "Martial Law Document Task Force (TF)" in February 2017, during the height of former President Park's impeachment trial, directing the preparation of martial law review documents and reporting these documents to then Minister of National Defense Han Min-gu and others.

The prosecution is carefully examining whether the act of preparing the martial law documents constitutes a military coup or rebellion aimed at disrupting the constitutional order (conspiracy to commit rebellion). There are expectations that former President Park and others will be investigated directly or indirectly to determine whether Cho reported the document preparation to higher-ups and agreed to execute a rebellion if necessary.

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