Trial for Former GIMUSA Commander Cho Hyun-cheon on 'Political Involvement' to Begin on the 8th of Next Month

Prosecutors Focus on Martial Law Document Allegations

The trial of former Defense Security Command Commander Cho Hyun-cheon (64), who is accused of 'political interference,' will begin on the 8th of next month.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the legal community on the 20th, Judge Kim Yu-mi of the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 6 Single Judge set the first pretrial conference for former Commander Cho on the afternoon of the 8th of next month. During the pretrial conference, the defendants' positions regarding the criminal charges will be confirmed and plans for evidence investigation will be made.

Unlike a formal trial, the defendant is not obligated to appear in court in person. Former Commander Cho returned to Korea on the 29th of last month after 5 years and 3 months and was arrested at Incheon International Airport.

Former Commander Cho is accused of ordering his subordinates to prepare reports related to the 2016 election of the chairman of the Federation of Korean Freedom and mobilizing Defense Security Command agents to hold rallies supporting former President Park Geun-hye or to publish columns and advertisements. He is also accused of unauthorized use of 60 million won from the Defense Security Command budget to form public opinion supporting the deployment of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense).

After indicting former Commander Cho on the 14th, the prosecution is additionally investigating allegations related to the martial law documents.

It is alleged that in February 2017, when the impeachment trial of former President Park was underway, a 'Martial Law Document Task Force (TF)' was formed to prepare a martial law review document, which was ordered and reported to then Minister of National Defense Han Min-gu and others.

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