Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min's side denied the charges at the first pretrial hearing in the case in which he was indicted by a special counsel on charges including conspiring for the Dec. 3 martial law plan, saying, "Former Minister Lee clearly conveyed to former President Yoon Suk-yeol that he opposed martial law."
The 32nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Kang Wan-su, chief judge) on the 19th held the first pretrial hearing in the first-instance trial of former Minister Lee, who was indicted and detained on charges including engaging in important duties related to insurrection, abuse of authority to interfere with the exercise of rights, and perjury. Former Minister Lee, who is being held at the Seoul Detention Center, did not appear in court that day. A pretrial hearing is a procedure to sort out issues, evidence, and future schedules before a formal trial, and the defendant is not required to attend.
Earlier, the special counsel on insurrection indicted former Minister Lee on Aug. 19 and took him into custody.
Former Minister Lee is accused of conspiring in advance for the Dec. 3 martial law and, at the Cabinet meeting held before the declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 last year, receiving from former President Yoon an order to cut power and water to certain media outlets and conveying it to the fire authorities and police. The special counsel also believes Lee's testimony in February during former President Yoon's Constitutional Court impeachment trial—"I once saw a slip of paper from afar at the presidential office, but I never saw a document that specifically contained power and water cutoff details"—was false.
In response, Lee's attorney said that day, "Former Minister Lee opposed martial law," and "he clearly conveyed that intention to the president." Lee's side also said it had submitted a statement to the court earlier indicating that it denies all the facts of the indictment brought by the special counsel.
Lee's side said, "Someone conspiring for (martial law) would not have gone to a local kimjang event, nor would they have rushed back after leaving a flight reservation unattended and buying train tickets three times," adding, "Even in light of such circumstances, it is hard to see that there was a conspiracy for martial law or a sequential conspiracy."
They added, "There was no order to cut power and water, and even the fire agency chief who said (he heard such talk) used the expression 'nuance.'" On the perjury charge, they said, "He testified according to his memory, and he has never given testimony or statements that contradict his memory."
The court decided to conclude the pretrial hearing that day. The next hearing will be held as a formal trial at 10 a.m. on Oct. 17.
Meanwhile, the special counsel asked the court to "hold an expedited trial." The court responded, "Barring special circumstances, we will hold weekly hearings."