'Forced False Signature' Song Young-moo Former Minister Case, Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office Investigates

The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office is investigating the case of former Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo, who is suspected of forcing military officers to sign false statements related to the 'martial law documents' of the Military Security Command.

Former Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo. Photo by Asia Economy DB

According to the legal community on the 4th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office recently transferred the case involving former Minister Song's alleged abuse of authority, which was handed over by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC), to the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office last month. It is understood that this transfer was made considering that the Western District Prosecutors' Office is investigating the suspicion of distortion of the 'martial law documents' by former Minister Song.

Earlier, the People Power Party claimed that the Moon Jae-in administration manipulated the martial law review documents created in February 2017, which they judged to be 'merely review reports with no illegality,' to make it appear as if the military had conspired to commit treason, and filed complaints against former Minister Song and others.

The PCC, regarding this suspicion, found that there was sufficient evidence against former Minister Song, retired Army Major General Jeong Hae-il, who served as a military aide at the time of the incident, and Choi Hyun-soo, then spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense and director of the Defense Mental Health Institute, and on the 18th of last month, transferred the case to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, requesting prosecution.

It was investigated that on July 9, 2018, at a meeting chaired by the minister attended by 14 officers, former Minister Song stated, "The Military Security Command's review of the martial law enforcement order was not wrong. According to the legal review, plans prepared for the worst-case scenario are not problematic. I share the same view."

Subsequently, former Minister Song reportedly forced the officers who attended the meeting to prepare statements confirming that such remarks were never made, and planned to release rebuttal articles. He coerced eight people, including the Ministry of National Defense's Policy Office chief, to sign false statements containing fabricated facts.

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