The trial of former Defense Security Command chief Yeo In Hyeong and former Intelligence Command chief Moon Sang Ho, who were arrested and indicted for their involvement in the December 3 martial law crisis, is set to intensify.
Military authorities reported on Tuesday that the Central Regional Military Court will conduct a pre-trial hearing for the former commanders this morning. This pre-trial hearing is a procedural step to organize key issues and evidence before the main trial begins. The defendants are not required to attend, so only their attorneys will likely be present.
Notably, Yeo is expected to skip the pre-trial hearing as he has been summoned as a witness for the fifth hearing in President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial.
During today’s military court session, the defense attorneys for Yeo and Moon may challenge the military prosecution’s summary of charges or reveal previously undisclosed information about the martial law situation. Given the allegations that these former commanders participated in pre-emptive discussions about martial law, there’s speculation that new evidence could emerge, potentially influencing the legal outcome of this case.
Yeo is accused of attempting to arrest and detain high-profile individuals, including Democratic Party leader Lee Jae Myung and former People Power Party leader Han Dong Hoon, under orders from then-Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun during the martial law crisis. Reports indicate that Yeo confirmed receiving these orders during the prosecution’s investigation.
Moon allegedly conspired with Yoon and former Intelligence Command chief Noh Sang Won to plan the martial law declaration. He’s also accused of deploying troops to seize the Central Election Management Committee’s headquarters in Gwacheon immediately after the declaration.
On January 23, pre-trial hearings were held for Army Chief of Staff Park An Soo, former Special Warfare Command chief Kwak Jong Geun, and former Capital Defense Command chief Lee Jin Woo. During the hearing, Lee’s defense team argued for his innocence, stating insufficient time to determine whether the President’s martial law declaration and the Defense Minister’s order to deploy forces to the National Assembly were unconstitutional or illegal. The representatives for Park and Kwak did not offer specific statements at that time.