Key Figures Jo Taeyong and Kim Yonghyun to Receive First Trial Verdicts Next Week in "December 3 Martial Law" Case... Special Prosecutor’s Results Expected

Sentencing for Jo Taeyong, Former NIS Director, on Neglect of Duty Scheduled for May 21

Special Prosecutor’s First Indictment: Verdict for Former Minister Kim Yonghyun Set for May 19

The first trial verdicts for the key defendants indicted by the special prosecutor team for insurrection in connection with the “December 3 Martial Law Incident” are scheduled to be delivered next week.

Cho Taeyong, former Director of the National Intelligence Service, accused of violating the National Intelligence Service Act, neglect of duty, and perjury. Yonhap News Agency.

According to the legal community on May 17, the 32nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Kyungjin) will hold a sentencing hearing on May 21 for Jo Taeyong, former Director of the National Intelligence Service, who was brought to trial on charges including violating the National Intelligence Service Act’s ban on political involvement and neglect of duty. At the final hearing last month, Special Prosecutor Cho Eunsuk’s team requested a severe sentence of seven years in prison for Jo.

Jo was arrested and indicted in November last year on charges of being aware in advance of former President Yoon Sukyeol’s plan to declare martial law in December 2024 but failing to report it to the National Assembly. He also faces charges for condoning the movements of an arrest team after being briefed by Hong Jangwon, former First Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service, immediately following the declaration of martial law; for providing false testimony before the National Assembly and the Constitutional Court; and for being involved in the deletion of information from secure phones belonging to former President Yoon and others. In addition, the allegation that Jo selectively provided National Intelligence Service CCTV footage only to the People Power Party, thereby violating the prohibition on political involvement, is also expected to impact the sentencing.

On the same day, May 21, the first trial verdict for Park Jongjun, former Chief of the Presidential Security Service, will also be delivered. Park was indicted on charges of intentionally deleting secure phone information belonging to former President Yoon and former Deputy Director Hong to destroy evidence related to the insurrection. The special prosecutor team has requested a three-year prison sentence for Park. In addition, the appellate verdict for Jeon Seongbae, known as Geonjin Bopsa, who is accused of colluding with First Lady Kim Keonhee to receive money and valuables from the Unification Church under the pretext of lobbying for church-related issues, will also be announced on the same day.

Prior to this, on May 19, the court will deliver its first verdict in the special prosecutor’s “first indictment” case. The 34th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Han Seongjin) will hold a sentencing hearing for Kim Yonghyun, former Minister of National Defense, on charges of obstruction of official duties by deception and instigation of evidence destruction.

Kim was the first to be indicted by the special prosecutor in June last year, on charges including unlawfully delivering a secure phone, obtained by deceiving the Presidential Security Service just before the martial law declaration on December 2, 2024, to Noh Sangwon, a civilian and former Commander of the Defense Security Command, who was a co-conspirator in the insurrection. He is also accused of instructing his aide to destroy related documents and a laptop after the lifting of martial law. The trial had been delayed due to Kim’s repeated requests for the recusal of the judges and for a change of venue, but now, 11 months after indictment, the first-instance court is set to deliver its judgment.

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