The special counsel on insurrection asked the court to sentence former Minister of the Ministry of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, who was indicted on charges of engaging in important duties in an insurrection in connection with the Dec. 3 martial law, to life imprisonment.
At a sentencing hearing held on the 13th before the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jee Kui-youn), the special counsel sought life imprisonment for the former Minister Kim. On the same day, the team sought the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who was tried together.
The special counsel said the former Minister Kim, together with former President Yoon and others, preplanned emergency martial law, deployed troops to the National Assembly and the National Election Commission, and was a key figure who directed and oversaw the overall operations of martial law, including running teams to arrest politicians. Accordingly, the former Minister Kim was charged with engaging in important duties in an insurrection and abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights.
The former Minister Kim was the first to be arrested and indicted on Dec. 27 last year on insurrection charges related to the illegal Dec. 3 martial law. Throughout the investigation and trial, Kim consistently denied the charges, saying, "Declaring martial law is the president's exclusive authority and does not constitute insurrection."