Arrest Warrant Sought for Former Army Ground Operations Commander Kang Hopil over Insurrection Allegations... Hearing Set for 13th

Formation of Situation Room After Martial Law Declaration
Accused of Convening Crisis Response Team and Other Actions

The second Special Prosecutor Team led by Kwon Changyoung has begun efforts to secure the custody of Kang Hopil, former Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Ground Operations Command, in connection with allegations of involvement in an insurrection.

Kang Hopil, former Ground Operations Commander of the Republic of Korea Army. The Asia Business Daily DB

According to the legal community on July 11, the special prosecutor's team filed a request for an arrest warrant for former Commander Kang the previous day on charges of participating in major duties related to the insurrection.

The pre-arrest suspect interrogation is scheduled to take place on July 13 at the Seoul Central District Court.

Former Commander Kang is accused of being involved in the coup by participating in the formation of an internal situation room at the Ground Operations Command after the declaration of martial law and ordering the assembly of the crisis response team and all senior officers of the command.

It was found that the Ground Operations Command under Kang's leadership convened the crisis response team via the voice broadcasting system at 10:36 p.m. on December 3, 2024, immediately after former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law.

He is also suspected of participating in related discussions even before the implementation of martial law.

Ye Inhyeong, former commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command, referred to the commanders of the Ground Operations Command, Special Warfare Command, Capital Defense Command, and Defense Counterintelligence Command collectively as "JTSP" in his notes. He wrote, "This is the common opinion of the JTSP," "The four are determined," "The enemy’s action must come first; a situation must arise where it cannot be controlled by wartime or police power," and "I offer candid advice so that we seize the opportunity and do not make a misjudgment."

Among these, except for Kang Hopil, Kwak Jonggeun (former commander of the Special Warfare Command), Lee Jinwoo (former commander of the Capital Defense Command), and Ye Inhyeong (former commander of the Defense Counterintelligence Command), are all currently on trial on charges of participating in major duties related to the insurrection.

Kang Hopil maintains his position that he was unaware of the martial law in advance and did not participate in its execution, denying all charges.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.