Ex-Special Mission Group Chief Gets 12 Years in Prison for Role in 2024 Martial Law Incident

A Seoul court has sentenced Kim Hyun-tae, the former head of the Army's 707th Special Mission Group, to 12 years in prison for his role in the 2024 martial law incident. According to The Korea Times and Yonhap News, Kim was convicted of playing a key role in an insurrection after leading troops to break open the National Assembly's windows and shut off power to the building.

The martial law was imposed by former President Yoon Suk Yeol in December 2024. Kim Hyun-tae was not the only one sentenced; Brig. Gen. Lee Sang-hyun and Brig. Gen. Kim Dae-woo, also involved in the martial law bid, received prison terms of 10 years and 5 years, respectively, as per The Korea Times and Yonhap News.

The court stated that the defendants "abandoned their sacred duty to national security and defending the land and used military power that should be used for the nation and the people for the interests of themselves and select forces." KBS World Radio also reported on the sentencing but did not provide additional details.

Brief written by urgent.news from KBS World Radio, The Korea Times, Yonhap News — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.