Court to hold 1st hearing on ex-defense minister accused of role in martial law next month

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, left, attends a cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, Dec. 3. Newsis A Seoul court will hold its first pre-trial hearing next month for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power over the brief imposition of martial law, judicial officials said Tuesday.

The preparatory hearing for Kim's trial will take place Jan. 16 at the Seoul Central District Court for the defense to lay out its case and to coordinate the schedule for evidence examinations. Kim is not required to attend the hearing.



On Friday, prosecutors indicted Kim under detention on charges of engaging in "essential" activities for an insurrection and abusing his power through President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched declaration of martial law on Dec. 3. Kim is the first to be indicted in the investigations into the short-lived martial law episode.

He is accused of sending troops to the National Assembly to prevent lawmakers from voting on a motion to reject Yoon's martial law declaration, as well as to the offices of the election watchdog to check election fraud suspicions. He also allegedly ordered troops to arrest key politicians, including the leaders of the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party. In Kim's indictment, prosecutors accused Yoon of ordering troops and police to arrest lawmakers and "drag" them out from the National Assembly.

(Yonhap).