Former Office of National Security Deputy Minister Chung Eui-yong and other foreign affairs and security chiefs from the Moon Jae-in administration, indicted over alleged leaks of classified information on the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, all denied the charges at their first formal trial.
According to legal sources on the 27th, former Deputy Minister Chung, former Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, and former Office of National Security first deputy chief Seo Ju-seok appeared at the first hearing on charges of abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights, held by the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Division 27 (Presiding Judge Woo In-seong), denied the allegations in the indictment, and argued for acquittal.
Former Deputy Minister Chung and the former Minister are accused of instructing the Ministry of National Defense regional cooperation team leader in May 2020 to inform a group opposing THAAD of military operational information classified as level-2 military secret (replacement of missile and radar electronic device units), thereby leaking it.
Former first deputy chief Seo is also accused of, during her tenure as Vice Minister of National Defense in 2018 on two occasions and six times from 2010 to 2021, instructing the Ministry of National Defense regional cooperation team leader to inform a group opposing THAAD of military operational information subject to special handling (bringing in construction materials, etc.).
Earlier, the prosecution launched an investigation into the case at the request of the Board of Audit and Inspection in Nov. 2024 and indicted them without detention in Apr. the following year. Former Deputy Minister Chung and others are also accused of instructing that military operational information be conveyed to a THAAD-opposing group that included a pro-enemy organization.
The prosecution explained the indictment, saying, "Former Deputy Minister Chung, in collusion with the former Minister, around May 29, 2020, instructed the Ministry of National Defense regional cooperation team leader to inform a group opposing THAAD of operational information on the intake of an aging strategic weapon related to THAAD (missile and radar electronic device units), classified as level-2 military secret."
Former Deputy Minister Chung's side pointed out that social conflict had intensified due to the THAAD deployment and emphasized that broadly informing the public about information related to the deployment was the policy line of the Moon Jae-in administration at the time. They also noted that the indictment is unclear on how, specifically, former Deputy Minister Chung gave the relevant instructions.
The former Minister's side likewise argued for acquittal, saying, "The prosecution speculates that by conveying operational information we tried to obstruct the operation and block the THAAD deployment," and, "From the afternoon of the day before the operation began, related news had already been delivered through media reports."
Meanwhile, the court said it will proceed with the examination of witnesses of the Ministry of National Defense officials involved starting in May.