The first trial of the case in which former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun was additionally indicted by the special prosecutor for insurrection will be held on July 17. Earlier, on the 18th, the special prosecutor added charges against the former minister for obstruction of official duties by deception and instigation of evidence destruction.
The 34th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Director General Han Seong-jin, is scheduled to hold the first pre-trial preparation session regarding the charges of obstruction of official duties by deception and instigation of evidence destruction against the former minister at 10 a.m. on the 17th of next month. The pre-trial preparation session is a procedure to organize issues, evidence, and future schedules related to the case prior to the formal trial, and the defendant is not obligated to attend.
Earlier, the special prosecutor added charges against the former minister on the 18th, ahead of the expiration of the detention period for his first trial regarding the charge of insurrection important duty engagement, and requested the court to issue an additional arrest warrant. The court issued the additional arrest warrant for the former minister on the 25th.
The former minister faces charges of obstruction of official duties by deception and instigation of evidence destruction. The special prosecutor reports that the former minister deceived the Presidential Security Service and received a covert phone on December 2 of last year, then delivered it to Roh Sang-won, a civilian and co-conspirator in the insurrection. Additionally, the former minister is accused of directing a civilian surnamed Yang, who served as his secretary, to destroy all documents related to martial law on December 5 of last year, following the declaration of a state of emergency.