A court rejected an arrest warrant for Kim Myung-soo, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff suspected of taking part in the Dec. 3 martial-law episode. Observers say the special counsel's push to expose an alleged 'second martial law' attempt has hit a setback.
The Seoul Central District Court on June 15 rejected an arrest warrant for Kim Myung-soo, the former JCS chairman accused of playing a leading role in the insurrection, after holding a pre-detention hearing, the Kyunghyang Shinmun reported. The court found that non-custodial investigation was appropriate, citing the need to protect his right to defense and a limited risk of evidence destruction.
광고 문의 · 300×250By contrast, warrants were issued for three others facing the same charge — former JCS deputy chief Jeong Jin-pal, former JCS combat-readiness inspection deputy Lee Jae-sik, and former Army headquarters policy director Kim Heung-jun — on grounds they might destroy evidence. Among the JCS leadership, only the central figure, Kim, avoided detention.
The special counsel believes Kim attempted a so-called 'second martial law' even after the National Assembly passed a resolution demanding its lifting the day after the decree. He is accused of supporting martial law by issuing fragmentary orders to the Special Warfare Command and Capital Defense Command then deployed at the Assembly, to the effect of 'prioritizing martial-law duties.'
Where does the probe go now
Analysts say the rejection blunts the investigation's momentum. Failing to detain a key suspect means more time to secure testimony and trace the chain of command. Still, prosecution is possible without custody, so the special counsel is expected to weigh re-filing after supplementary investigation or indicting directly.
Legal experts note the principle that 'detention is not a guilty verdict,' reading the decision as the court prioritizing defense rights over custody even for military commanders. Those seeking full accountability for the martial-law episode, however, worry that punishing those responsible is being delayed.
For Korea's Chinese community, the case is not someone else's affair. An emergency such as martial law directly affects foreign residents' movement, stay and safety. Many Chinese families and students were left anxious during the last episode, so how fully the truth emerges is also a yardstick of public trust in Korea's rule of law.
The Bridge Times sees this decision as one step in a process, not a failure to hold anyone to account. Regardless of detention, what matters is how the facts are settled at trial, and we will watch that calmly through the lens of foreign residents' safety.
