Ex-JCS chief attends arrest warrant hearing over alleged martial law role

Former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Myung-soo speaks to reporters as he appears before a special counsel team for questioning over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid at the team's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, in this file photo taken May 27. Yonhap

A former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff appeared before a court Monday to attend his arrest warrant hearing over his alleged involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid.

Kim Myung-soo is accused of having played a key role in an insurrection during Yoon's martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024, when he served as the nation's highest-ranking military officer.

Special counsel Kwon Chang-young's team has alleged Kim stood by as martial law troops were deployed to the National Assembly at the time and he took part in the establishment of a martial law command.

The Seoul Central District Court will review the need to issue a warrant for Kim's arrest after hearing arguments from both sides. A decision on his arrest could be made as early as later in the day.

Kwon's team believes Kim had been aware of the illegal nature of Yoon's martial law bid and the deployment of troops at the time, arguing that he did not take appropriate measures as the nation's top military officer.

Kim's side has rejected the allegations, claiming then Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun took over control of martial law troops after Yoon's declaration and that he had been sidelined from decision-making procedures.

Kwon's team filed for the warrant for Kim and three other former military officials last week over their alleged roles in Yoon's martial law bid. The arrest warrant hearings for the three others will also take place Monday.