Why did the military court acquit Boo Seung-chan of leaking military secrets?

The court said there was not enough evidence to prove that disclosure of the military secrets in the case would pose an evident threat to national security.

What did Boo Seung-chan say was the reason for his indictment?

Boo claimed the indictment was retaliation for mentioning in his book a fortune teller’s alleged involvement in relocating the presidential residence. His book said the fortune teller, known as Choengong, had visited candidate sites in 2022, including the former official residence of the army chief of staff.

DPK lawmaker acquitted of leaking military secrets

Q: What information was Boo Seung-chan accused of revealing in his book?

Boo was accused of disclosing details of an undisclosed dialogue between former Defense Minister Seo Wook and then-U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during their annual security talks in December 2021.

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Summary

A military court in Seoul acquitted Rep. Boo Seung-chan on Tuesday of leaking military secrets while he was a defense ministry spokesperson. The Central District Military Court said there was insufficient evidence that the alleged leak would pose an evident threat to national security. Boo had been accused of disclosing details of a private conversation between former Defense Minister Seo Wook and then-U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. The military prosecution had sought a five-year prison sentence.

Key Facts

Boo was indicted in July 2023 under the Military Secret Protection Act.
The conversation at issue took place during annual security talks in December 2021.
Boo said his indictment was retaliation for writing about a fortune teller’s alleged role in relocating the presidential residence under former President Yoon Suk Yeol.
Boo was also acquitted in May of charges related to divulging official secrets linked to the 2021 defense talks.

By Yonhap

Published Nov 3, 2026 4:28 pm KST

Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) lawmaker Boo Seung-chan, who was indicted on charges of leaking military secrets obtained during his tenure as a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, attends the sentencing hearing held at the Central District Military Court in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

A military court on Tuesday acquitted Rep. Boo Seung-chan of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) of charges of leaking military secrets while he served as the defense ministry's spokesperson.

The Central District Military Court handed down the acquittal for Rep. Boo, who was indicted in July 2023 on charges of violating the Military Secret Protection Act.

Boo is accused of exposing details of an undisclosed dialogue in his book that former Defense Minister Seo Wook and then U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had during their annual security talks in December 2021.

At that time, he was serving as spokesperson of Seoul's defense ministry under the administration of former liberal President Moon Jae-in.

On Tuesday, the court said there was not enough evidence to prove that if the military secrets linked to this case were leaked, it would pose an "evident" threat to national security.

The military prosecution earlier requested that the court sentence him to five years in prison.

Boo has claimed he did not leak military secrets in his book, arguing that his indictment was retaliation for mentioning a fortune teller's alleged involvement in the relocation of the presidential residence under former conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol in his book.

His book stirred controversy over claims that the fortune teller, who goes by the name Choengong, had visited candidate sites of Yoon's presidential residence, including the former official residence of the army chief of staff, in 2022.

Meanwhile, Boo was also questioned by the prosecution on charges of divulging official secrets linked to the 2021 defense talks, but was acquitted in May.

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