Special Prosecutor Requests Arrest Warrant for Former Prosecutor General Sim Woojung Over Alleged Involvement in Rebellion

Arrest Warrant Requested for Former Chief of Planning Jeon Mugon as Well
Suspicion of Reviewing Prosecutor Dispatch to Joint Task Force
and Drafting Document on Judicial Jurisdiction

The 2nd Comprehensive Special Prosecutor’s Office, led by Kwon Changyoung, has begun efforts to secure the custody of former Prosecutor General Sim Woojung, who is accused of participating in the rebellion during the 12·3 Martial Law.

Former Prosecutor General Shim Woojung, who is suspected of covering up investigations involving First Lady Kim Geonhee, is appearing for questioning as a suspect at the 2nd Comprehensive Special Prosecutor's Office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

On July 14, the special investigation team announced to the press, "Yesterday, we requested arrest warrants for former Prosecutor General Sim and former Chief of the Planning and Coordination Office of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Jeon Mugon on charges of performing important duties related to rebellion and abuse of authority in interfering with the exercise of rights."

Sim is accused of, on December 3, 2024—the day martial law was declared—reviewing the dispatch of prosecutors to the Joint Martial Law Investigation Headquarters at the direction of former Minister of Justice Park Sungjae.

Former Minister Park is suspected of convening a senior staff meeting at the Ministry of Justice immediately after the declaration of martial law and of directing the Prosecutor General’s Office to review dispatching prosecutors to the joint task force. The special investigation team is focusing on the fact that Park and Sim spoke by phone three times from 11:00 p.m. that day until the early hours of the next morning.

Sim is also accused of discussing measures to handle crimes that would fall under the jurisdiction of the military courts after the martial law declaration and of being involved in the drafting of the document on 'Jurisdiction Over Trials Under Martial Law.'

The special investigation team previously secured this document during a search and seizure of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office. The document is known to organize the jurisdiction over trials and investigations, based on the declaration of martial law.

At the time, Jeon was the Chief of the Planning and Coordination Office and is suspected of assisting Sim in drafting the document and participating in discussions regarding judicial jurisdiction. The special investigation team believes, based on these circumstances, that the senior leadership of the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office either participated in or condoned the unconstitutional and illegal declaration of martial law.

Sim is also under investigation by the special prosecutor for suspicions of covering up an investigation involving First Lady Kim Geonhee, but it is understood that these charges were not included in the most recent arrest warrant request.

The pretrial detention hearings for Sim and others are expected to take place as early as this week.

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