Former Defense Minister and Military Officials Seek Urgent Relief from Human Rights Commission

Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, along with former Intelligence Command Chief Moon Sang-ho and former Military Counterintelligence Command Chief Yeo In-hyung, have submitted urgent relief requests to the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) amid their indictment on charges of insurrection. According to the NHRCK on February 16, Kim's request was received on February 10. Kim's legal team argues that the Constitutional Court's receipt of investigation records from the prosecution regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment trial infringes on their right to defense and a fair trial. They are seeking an urgent remedy to halt the use of these records by the Constitutional Court. Additionally, Moon and Yeo, along with former Capital Defense Command Chief Lee Jin-woo and former Army Special Warfare Command Chief Kwak Jong-geun, filed their own urgent relief request on February 13, claiming that the prohibition of visits and correspondence with civilians by the Central Military Court violates their basic rights. An NHRCK official stated that they have requested documentation from the Constitutional Court related to these urgent relief applications and are considering a site visit to the military prison.