‘내란가담’ 김현태 징역 12년 법정구속…“계엄 정당했다며 법치주의 조롱”

In a rare legal development, former special operations commander Kim Hyun-tae was sentenced to 12 years in prison for his role in the emergency martial law crackdown on March 3, 2021. This marks the first verdict for military officers who allegedly followed illegal orders from then-President Yoon Suk-yeol during the martial law emergency.

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal 37-2 Division, presided by Judge Oh Chang-seok, handed down the sentences for Kim Hyun-tae and other military officials involved in the crackdown. The court acknowledged the gravity of their actions, stating that the unlawful blockade of the National Assembly was a significant violation of constitutional rights and hindered the functioning of democratic institutions.

The court emphasized that military personnel should not use martial law as a pretext for personal or partisan political gains, and warned them not to repeat such actions in the future.