Prison terms sought for ex-security officials for leaking THAAD-related intelligence
Chung Eui-yong, who served as national security adviser during former President Moon Jae-in's administration, arrives at Seoul Central District Court, May 18. Korea Times photo by Ha Sang-yoon
The prosecution on Monday sought prison terms for three officials who served under former President Moon Jae-in on charges of leaking intelligence related to the THAAD U.S. missile defense system.
Prosecutors requested 10-month prison sentences for Chung Eui-yong, former national security adviser, and Jeong Kyeong-doo, former defense minister, during their trial on power abuse charges at the Seoul Central District Court.
They also sought a two-year prison term for Suh Choo-suk, former first deputy national security adviser.
Chung and Jeong are accused of giving orders to inform activists opposed to South Korea's hosting of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system of operations to replace THAAD battery missiles and radar equipment in Seongju, 215 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in May 2020.
Suh is accused of instructing a defense ministry official on eight occasions between 2018 and 2021 to inform the activists in advance of operations to bring THAAD-related equipment and construction materials into the Seongju base.
Prosecutors indicted the three in April last year after the state auditor raised suspicions that officials under the Moon government had leaked the information in a possible attempt to delay the full deployment of THAAD.
The previous Park Geun-hye administration decided to host the U.S. missile defense system in 2016 as part of efforts to counter North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats.
The case has recently received attention as it is among indictments to be reviewed under a special counsel bill passed last week that seeks to investigate allegations the prosecution under former President Yoon Suk Yeol had fabricated evidence or induced false testimonies to build cases.