Special Prosecutor Indicts Shim Woojung and Jeon Mugon Without Detention... "Involved in Key Coup Duties under Martial Law"

Former Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, who is accused of abuse of authority related to his involvement in the 12·3 Martial Law coup and the waiver of an appeal against the cancellation of the arrest warrant for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, has been indicted.

On August 20, the 2nd Comprehensive Special Prosecutor’s Office led by Kwon Chang-young announced that Shim and former Supreme Prosecutors’ Office Planning and Coordination Department Chief Jeon Moo-gon had been indicted without detention on charges of performing key duties in connection with the coup and of abuse of authority and obstruction of the exercise of rights.

Shim is accused of, under the direction of former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, reviewing the dispatch of prosecutors to the Martial Law Joint Investigation Headquarters and discussing jurisdiction over trials and investigations under martial law from December 3, 2024, when martial law was declared, until the following morning.

The special prosecutor’s office secured documents in the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, such as “241203 Martial Law Investigation Team (Candidates),” “Procedure Arrangement,” and “Jurisdiction of Trials under Martial Law.” Investigations confirmed these documents contained details on court and investigative jurisdictions under the martial law proclamation and lists of prosecutors.

Former Prosecutor General Shim Woojung, who is suspected of covering up an investigation involving First Lady Kim Geonhee, is appearing on the 10th for suspect interrogation at the Second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor's Office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Yonhap News

The special prosecutor’s office explained, “Former Prosecutor General Shim instructed a review of forming an internal prosecution team dedicated to investigating martial law order violators, thereby participating in major coup-related responsibilities and making prosecutors at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities.”

Abuse of authority charges also apply to the process in which the immediate appeal of the decision to cancel former President Yoon’s custody was waived. At the time, the investigation team recommended an immediate appeal, but former Prosecutor General Shim led the release of former President Yoon by deciding not to appeal after meetings such as the Directors’ Meeting at the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office.

The special prosecutor’s office judged that Former Prosecutor General Shim abused his authority to obstruct the exercise of special investigation team prosecutors’ right to file an immediate appeal.

At the time of martial law, former department chief Jeon is accused of assisting Shim as head of the Planning and Coordination Department and being involved in drafting and discussing the “Jurisdiction of Trials under Martial Law” document.

The special prosecutor’s office had previously requested arrest warrants for the two last month, but the court dismissed the requests, citing low risk of evidence destruction or flight. The special prosecutor’s office stated, “We will do our utmost to prove the charges during future trial proceedings.”

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