Prosecutors' Special Investigation Unit Urgently Re-arrests Kim Yong-hyun... Arrest Warrant Expected to be Requested Tomorrow Night

The prosecution is re-summoning and investigating former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, the key suspect in the ‘December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident.’

According to the legal community on the 8th, the Special Investigation Headquarters for Emergency Martial Law (Head: High Prosecutor Park Se-hyun) called Kim, who is detained at Seoul Eastern Detention Center, to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office building around 5 p.m. for questioning.

Park Se-hyun, Chief of the Special Investigation Headquarters for Martial Law, briefing at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office press room in Seocho-dong, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 8th. Photo by Choi Seok-jin

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After Kim appeared at the building unexpectedly around 1:30 a.m. that day and was questioned for over six hours, he was urgently arrested and detained at the Eastern Detention Center, then called again for additional investigation.

In previous interrogations, Kim admitted the facts, stating that “he proposed the declaration of martial law to President Yoon Seok-yeol and commanded the martial law troops to enter the National Assembly according to the proclamation,” but asserted that “there was absolutely no illegality or unconstitutionality.” He is expected to continue similar statements during today’s investigation.

The prosecution plans to conduct intensive questioning of Kim, who has detailed knowledge of the events before and after the martial law declaration, before the detention period expires. Head Park Se-hyun stated at a press briefing that “we plan to conduct as much investigation as possible within the detention period today and tomorrow.”

The Special Investigation Headquarters is expected to request an arrest warrant as early as the 9th after completing the investigation of Kim.

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