Former Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan had an arrest warrant requested over false testimony related to the 'VIP anger theory' in the case of Corporal Chae Soo-geun's death, but the court rejected the request. The court ruled that it was unlikely there were concerns of flight or a possibility of evidence destruction that exceeded the right to defense.
Nam Se-jin, Director General in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, stated on the 22nd after concluding the pre-arrest interrogation of Kim, "Considering the suspect's career, residence, family relations, and behavior during the investigation process, it is difficult to recognize a risk of flight." He also noted, "Given the evidence secured thus far, the progress of the investigation, and the suspect's status, it is also difficult to view there is a risk of evidence destruction that exceeds the scope of exercising the right to defense," thus dismissing the arrest warrant.
During the warrant examination, Kim acknowledged he had heard rumors that then-President Yoon Suk-yeol was 'enraged' after receiving the initial investigation results on the case of Corporal Chae. He had previously denied passing on the 'VIP anger theory' to Park Jeong-hun, the former head of the Marine Corps investigation team, in the National Assembly, courts, and military courts, but at this hearing, he changed his statement, saying, "I heard it as a rumor and felt confused because the president or minister had never been angry."
Kim's lawyer, Kim Young-soo, told reporters after the hearing, "He acknowledged in court that he had heard the 'VIP anger theory'" and explained, "Since it was not heard directly from the president but through rumors, it has been difficult to specify the exact source until now." When asked whether he conveyed the information to Colonel Park Jeong-hun, he said, "It is possible the commander mentioned what he heard to the investigation team leader," effectively acknowledging it.
Earlier, on the 18th, the special investigation team for the fallen Marines applied charges of perjury and violations of National Assembly testimony and appraisal laws against former Commander Kim, requesting an arrest warrant. This was the first warrant request since the establishment of the Marine Special Investigation Team. The special investigation team claimed, "Kim's testimony has been sufficiently proven as false through the investigation," adding, "Based on communications with military personnel, the possibility of evidence destruction is high, making it inevitable to investigate him under arrest."
Former Commander Kim was identified as the person who conveyed rumors of President Yoon's anger to Colonel Park, who was in charge of the initial investigation into Corporal Chae's death during his tenure as Marine Corps commander from July to August 2023. After Colonel Park exposed this, there were controversies surrounding external pressure, but former Commander Kim has consistently denied related contents. He criticized Colonel Park publicly at the military court, saying, "The heroic psychology should not shake the history and tradition of the Marine Corps."
Meanwhile, the warrant examination that day lasted about two hours, with Deputy Special Prosecutor Lee Geum-kyu and Deputy Prosecutor Lee Jung-min attending on behalf of the special investigation team. Judge Nam Se-jin, who was in charge of the suspect's interrogation, determined that there was no need for arrest and released former Commander Kim.