First Trial of Former Defense Security Command Chief Cho Hyun-cheon over 'Martial Law Document' Allegations... 'Denies Most Charges'

Joh Hyeoncheon Absent... Defense Attorney "Possibility to Dispute Charges"

At the first pretrial hearing for former Commander Cho Hyun-cheon of the Defense Security Command (now the Defense Counterintelligence Command), it was reported that Cho's defense team denied most of the charges.

Former Defense Security Command Commander Cho Hyun-cheon, a key figure in the martial law document controversy before the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye, was escorted to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office after arriving through Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the morning of March 29.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 8th, Judge Kim Yu-mi of the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 6 presided over the first pretrial hearing for Cho, who faces charges including abuse of authority, interference with the exercise of rights, political involvement under the Military Criminal Act, and embezzlement.

During the hearing, Cho's defense stated, "We understand there are grounds to dispute the charges and the overall indictment, but we are not yet prepared to provide detailed responses." When the court asked the prosecution to confirm Cho's stance during the investigation phase, the prosecution replied, "The defendant mostly denied the charges during the investigation, but admitted to some factual matters."

The pretrial hearing is a session to confirm the positions of both the defendant and the prosecution and to discuss plans for evidence presentation before the main trial begins. Since the defendant is not obligated to attend, Cho did not appear in court that day.

Cho was investigated on suspicion of ordering the drafting of the 'martial law document' during the Park Geun-hye administration and was indicted on charges including abuse of authority and political involvement under the Military Criminal Act. The prosecution believes that during the impeachment crisis of former President Park Geun-hye, he manipulated public opinion by mobilizing reservists and embezzled 30 million won from the Defense Security Command's budget.

According to the prosecution's indictment, Cho is accused of instructing staff, including the head of the reservist support division, to prepare a "response plan for security and conservative forces related to the current situation" in connection with the 2016 election for the president of the conservative-leaning organization, the Federation of Korean Freedom and Liberty.

He is also charged with political involvement by mobilizing Defense Security Command agents to hold counter-demonstrations supporting former President Park in November of that year, and by shaping public opinion through columns and advertisements.

Furthermore, around February 2017, prior to the impeachment trial of former President Park, Cho is suspected of forming a "Task Force (TF) for drafting the martial law document," ordering the drafting of documents containing detailed plans such as the composition of martial law troops and media censorship, and reporting these documents to then Minister of National Defense Han Min-gu. The prosecution is reviewing whether the drafting of the martial law document can be considered an act of military coup or rebellion aimed at "disturbing the constitutional order."

In addition, the prosecution is investigating allegations that Cho instructed Defense Security Command staff to create false documents to conceal the establishment of the martial law document drafting TF. The indictment also includes charges that Cho embezzled 30 million won from the Defense Security Command's budget.

Cho's next pretrial hearing is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on the 7th of next month.

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