Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun Faces Extended Detention Amid Controversy

On June 25, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who was issued an additional arrest warrant, expressed his hope for the swift release of the commanding officers during a statement from prison. He conveyed his regrets through his legal team, stating, "Many were expecting my release, and I apologize for not being able to meet those expectations." He emphasized the plight of active-duty soldiers, asserting that they were merely fulfilling their duties under the orders of the Minister, as mandated by the President's declaration of a state of emergency. Kim added, "If there is any responsibility to bear, it is solely mine," and urged for support to help the innocent soldiers escape their suffering.

Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok, who is investigating charges of insurrection and treason against former President Yoon Suk-yeol, requested the court to issue an arrest warrant for Kim on June 18, citing allegations of obstruction of official duties and evidence tampering. The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 34, presided over by Judge Han Seong-jin, held a hearing and issued the warrant around 9:10 PM, just three hours before Kim's initial detention period was set to expire, due to concerns over potential evidence destruction.

Kim, who was arrested and indicted last December, has been undergoing trial while in custody, with his initial six-month detention period scheduled to end on June 26. However, the new warrant has extended his detention by an additional six months.

In a separate statement, Kim's legal team accused the court of engaging in illegal detention practices, claiming that the procedures used to detain him were so egregious that they undermined the rule of law. They asserted that the judges had become mere instruments of the prosecution, vowing to expose any criminal conduct by judges and prosecutors during the trial to uphold judicial justice.

Additionally, Judge Lee Jeong-jae of the Seoul Central District Court dismissed the arrest warrant requested by the special prosecution team for former President Yoon Suk-yeol, citing Yoon's willingness to cooperate with the investigation.