Choo Kyung-ho, Accused of Obstructing Martial Law Lift, Says "I Expect a Fair Judgment from the Court" as Detention Hearing Begins

Charged with Key Role in Insurrection
Decision Expected Late Tonight at the Earliest
Warrant Outcome Critical to Special Prosecutor's Investigation

The pretrial detention hearing for Choo Kyung-ho, a People Power Party lawmaker accused of using his position as floor leader to obstruct fellow lawmakers from participating in the vote to lift martial law during the 12·3 Martial Law, began on December 2. A decision on whether to detain Assemblyman Choo is expected as early as tonight.

People Power Party lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho is attending the pre-trial detention hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. Photo by Yonhap News

Lee Jeongjae, the presiding judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, began the substantive warrant review for Assemblyman Choo, who is suspected of performing key insurrection-related duties, at 3 p.m. on the same day. The court is currently examining the necessity of his arrest and investigation.

Assemblyman Choo appeared at the court at approximately 2:21 p.m. When asked by reporters how he planned to explain the repeated changes of the party meeting venue during the hearing, he replied, "Today, I expect a fair judgment from the court without political bias." He did not respond to other questions, such as when he first learned about the martial law, whether he failed to properly notify the time of the plenary session for the vote to lift martial law, or if he had anything to say to People Power Party lawmakers who were actually prevented from voting, and proceeded into the building.

Assemblyman Choo is accused by the Special Prosecutor's Office for Insurrection, led by Cho Eunseok, of obstructing other lawmakers from participating in the vote to lift martial law by repeatedly changing the venue of the party meeting at the request of former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s aides during the declaration of martial law last year. As a result, a warrant for his arrest has been requested.

The special prosecutor's team announced that for the hearing, they deployed six dispatched prosecutors, including Special Prosecutor Assistant Park Eoksoo and Chief Prosecutor Choi Jaesoon, and prepared a 304-page presentation (PPT). They also submitted a 741-page opinion emphasizing the need for detention.

After the declaration of martial law, Assemblyman Choo convened an emergency party meeting and changed the venue three times: from the National Assembly to the party headquarters, back to the National Assembly, and again to the party headquarters. As a result, the National Assembly’s resolution to demand the lifting of martial law was passed with 190 votes in favor out of 190 present, while 90 out of 108 People Power Party lawmakers did not participate.

The special prosecutor's team suspects that at around 11:22 p.m. on December 3 last year, after receiving a call from former President Yoon requesting cooperation with the martial law, Assemblyman Choo attempted to prevent People Power Party lawmakers from participating in the vote to lift martial law.

The decision on Assemblyman Choo’s detention is expected to be a decisive turning point for the success of the special prosecutor’s investigation. If the warrant is issued, the investigation could expand to the broader People Power Party. If denied, the special prosecutor’s investigation into the political sphere will effectively conclude and shift to a "prosecution maintenance system." The special prosecutor’s investigation period ends on the 14th. The result of the detention hearing for Assemblyman Choo is expected to be announced as early as late tonight.

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