Ex-Justice Ministry official indicted over 1979 martial law detention plans

A special prosecutor's team investigating the remaining cases from the 1979 martial law period has indicted Shin Yong-hae, former head of the Justice Ministry's Correctional Bureau, without detention. Shin faces charges of violating martial law duties.

Prosecutors allege that Shin, under the direction of then-Justice Minister Park Sung-chul, took steps to secure detention space for individuals who would violate martial law decrees. This included instructing officials to prepare for the potential incarceration of such violators and to identify available space within correctional facilities. The investigation revealed that Shin also explored options for the emergency parole of existing inmates to free up capacity.

According to court documents from a previous trial involving Park Sung-chul, Shin Yong-hae was instructed by Park on the night of December 3, 1979, to prepare for securing detention space. Shin subsequently ordered the assessment of additional inmate capacity at the Seoul Detention Center and other correctional facilities in the Seoul metropolitan area. Despite already high occupancy rates, reports indicated that these facilities could accommodate an additional 3,600 people.

Shin is also accused of explicitly marking the purpose of securing this space as 'detention of martial law decree violators' and further directed the review of emergency and additional parole measures. The following morning, he convened a video conference with heads of correctional facilities nationwide, mentioning 'confirmation of martial law decrees' and 'expected surge in inmate numbers' to ensure preparedness.

This indictment follows the conviction of former Justice Minister Park Sung-chul, who was found guilty of violating martial law duties. The court recognized Park's instructions to Shin regarding the securing of detention space as a specific act of participating in the rebellion. The case against Shin was initially transferred to the police late last year after the investigation period for the martial law special prosecutor's team concluded, and was later passed to the prosecution before being taken up by the current special prosecutor's team.