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

by Lee Jungyun

Published 29 Apr.2026 18:16(KST)

Updated 29 Apr.2026 21:37(KST)

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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 team, led by Jo Eunseok, has requested a five-year prison sentence for Kang Eeku, former Chief of Staff at the Presidential Office, who has been indicted on charges of drafting post-facto documents following the 12·3 Martial Law.

On the 29th, the special prosecutor team made this request during the sentencing hearing for Kang, held at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Agreement Division 30 (Presiding Judge Park Okhee), regarding charges of falsifying and using official documents and violating the Presidential Records Management Act.

Kang is accused of drafting the cover page of the martial law proclamation on December 6, 2024, and obtaining the signatures of former President Yoon Suk Yeol, former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, and former Minister of National Defense Kim Yonghyun, subsequently keeping the document.

The special prosecutor team believes that Kang conspired with former President Yoon and others to make it appear as if the proclamation of martial law was lawfully carried out through a document signed in advance, and indicted him without detention in December last year.

The special prosecutor team argued, “When procedural flaws were raised after the lifting of martial law, Kang drafted the cover page of the proclamation to make it seem as though martial law had been declared in accordance with proper procedures. He deceived the entire nation in an attempt to justify the martial law and protect the insurgent forces.”

Kang has repeatedly denied the charges. He stated, “I could never have imagined that I would be accused of drafting false official documents,” and added, “I only received a call from the Prime Minister by chance and simply noted down the information on the document for safekeeping. I cannot accept the special prosecutor’s indictment.”