Seoul: Lawyers for former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who has been detained on charges of insurrection over his alleged role in the December 3 martial law imposition, rejected a court decision Monday granting him bail and vowed to appeal. Earlier in the day, the Seoul Central District Court granted the bail after accepting the prosecution's request despite an objection from Kim's side.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim was arrested December 27 for recommending martial law to former President Yoon Suk Yeol and drafting the decree. He is accused of deploying troops from various units to the National Assembly during martial law to prevent lawmakers from voting to reject Yoon's martial law declaration.
Kim's legal team claimed the court's decision is aimed at keeping the former defense minister detained and vowed to appeal to a higher court. "It is not a bail decision but merely a means to illegally extend the state of detention that Kim is in," the team said, adding it will take measures to correct the decision, citing the "grave illegality" of the move.
The court set bail at 100 million won (US$73,400) and imposed conditions that, among others, ban him from meeting or communicating with Yoon and others related to the martial law case. Usually, bail is requested by the defendants. In this case, however, the bail request was made by the prosecution.
Kim's six-month statutory detention period was set to expire June 26, which means he was supposed to be freed only 10 days later without any restrictions. Kim's objection to the bail was overridden by the court, which apparently seeks to block any unexpected variables that may arise during the ongoing martial law-related trials.