Special Prosecutor Seeks 5-Year Prison Term for Kang Eeku Over Martial Law Proclamation Cover-Up: "Deceived the Public to Justify Martial Law"

Kang Eeku, Former Chief of Staff at the Presidential Office, is attending a trial held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The special prosecutor's team for the insurrection case, led by Cho Eunseok, has requested a five-year prison sentence for Kang Eeku, the former Presidential Office Chief of Staff, who was indicted for drafting documents after the December 3 Martial Law.

On April 29, during the final hearing of Kang's case for falsification and use of official documents and violation of the Presidential Records Management Act, held at the Criminal Division 30 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Park Okhee), the special prosecutor made this sentencing request.

Kang is accused of preparing the cover page for the December 6, 2024 Martial Law proclamation and obtaining and keeping the signatures of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun.

The special prosecutor's team believes that Kang conspired with former President Yoon and others to make it appear as if the declaration of Martial Law had been lawfully carried out based on a pre-approved document, and indicted him without detention in December of last year.

The team stated, "After Martial Law was lifted, when procedural irregularities were raised, Kang created the proclamation's cover page to make it appear as if Martial Law had been declared according to proper procedures," and argued, "He deceived the entire nation to justify Martial Law and protect the insurrectionist forces."

Kang has repeatedly denied the charges. He stated, "I could not imagine that I had written a false official document," and added, "I only received a call from the Prime Minister by chance and kept a record on the document, so I cannot understand the special prosecutor's indictment."

The court has scheduled the sentencing for the 28th of next month.

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