Special Prosecutor Indicts Former Security Office Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo Over ‘Martial Law Justification Messages’

Kim Tae-hyo, former First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, who is accused of delivering messages to major allies such as the United States justifying the imposition of the December 3 Martial Law, has been indicted and will stand trial while in detention.

Kim Tae-hyo, former First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, who is accused of engaging in important duties during an insurrection and obstructing the exercise of authority through abuse of power, appeared at the pretrial detention hearing held on the 10th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 29th, the second special investigation team led by Kwon Chang-young announced that Kim had been formally indicted and detained on charges of engaging in important duties during the insurrection and of the obstruction of the exercise of rights by abuse of authority.

According to legal sources, Kim is accused of notifying major allies, including the United States, of the legitimacy of the martial law through Security Office and Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials immediately after former President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. The special prosecutors have determined that Kim gave instructions for duties not required by law to Foreign Ministry officials during this process, and therefore also charged him with obstruction of the exercise of rights by abuse of authority.

The messages delivered at that time reportedly included content such as, "This measure is intended to safeguard liberal democracy," and "In response to the National Assembly’s attempts to paralyze the administration through impeachment, budget cuts, and other means—thus seeking substantive destruction of the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea—the government is taking political action within the boundaries of the Constitution. President Yoon Suk Yeol maintains a firm stance against North Korea sympathizers and anti-Americanism."

Kim was taken into custody on the 10th. Prior to this, in April, the special prosecutors had searched his home and university office, and on the 7th of this month, they sought an arrest warrant. The court granted the warrant, citing concerns about the destruction of evidence, and subsequently rejected Kim's appeal to review the legality of his detention.

Meanwhile, the special prosecutors stated that they plan to indict former President Yoon and former National Security Office Director Shin Wonsik, who are also co-defendants, at a later date.

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