Former Special Forces Commander Sentenced to 12 Years for Role in Alleged Coup Attempt

A former commander of South Korea's elite 707th Special Mission Battalion has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and taken into custody. The court found him guilty for his role in an alleged illegal martial law incident that occurred in December 2024, citing his subsequent actions as a distortion of facts and a mockery of the legal system.

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The unit's deployment was a legitimate order from the supreme commander.

Kim Hyun-tae, a former Army Colonel and commander of the 707th Special Mission Battalion, initially appeared publicly in December 2024, clad in military attire, appealing for leniency for his subordinates. He claimed they were "victims" used by former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and testified about superior orders to remove lawmakers, suggesting an illegal martial law situation. At the time, he revealed his name and face, details usually kept confidential.

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Not a single citizen was harmed.

However, Kim's narrative dramatically shifted two months later when he testified before the Constitutional Court. He then denied receiving any orders to remove lawmakers. This contradicted the testimony of his direct superior, former Army Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun, who stated he received orders from then-President Yoon Suk-yeol to "quickly break down the door and drag people out." Kim further denied his earlier press conference statements, suggesting the meaning was "miscommunicated."

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The court imposed a heavy sentence because he distorted facts through YouTube channels and other means, mocking the rule of law and the judicial system.

Following his dismissal from the military in January, Kim transformed into a far-right YouTuber. He began advocating for the legality of the emergency martial law and participating in rallies promoting election fraud conspiracy theories. He even appeared on a YouTube channel, stating that "South Korea is in crisis and President Yoon Suk-yeol made a truly important decision." He later ran unsuccessfully as an independent candidate in a by-election. The court stated that Kim had no obligation to follow "manifestly illegal orders," rejecting his defense that he was merely following military commands.

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There is no obligation to follow manifestly illegal orders.