The second special investigation team indicted former Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Jeon Ha-gyu on charges of notifying the Defense Ministry press corps of the martial law proclamation during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law.
According to legal sources on the 18th, the special counsel team indicted the former Spokesperson without detention on charges of aiding and abetting insurrection. However, a former public affairs chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) who had been booked on the same charge was granted a stay of indictment.
The former Spokesperson is accused of delivering the martial law proclamation to reporters on Dec. 3, 2024, when emergency martial law was declared, under orders from former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun and former Army Chief of Staff Park An-su (the martial law commander). The message sent at the time stated, "To defend liberal democracy and protect the safety of the people from the threat of subversion of the Republic of Korea system by anti-state forces operating clandestinely within the Free Republic of Korea, the following is proclaimed throughout the Republic of Korea."
The special counsel team is also said to plan to indict former Capital Defense Command 1st Security Group commander Cho Seong-hyeon on charges of performing duties in furtherance of the plot. Colonel Cho received the Order of National Security Merit for refusing an order to deploy troops to the National Assembly during emergency martial law, but the special counsel is reportedly judging that there is suspicion of participation in insurrection.
In addition, the special counsel team is expected to continue indictments of some individuals on charges of participation in insurrection through the 23rd, when the investigation concludes.