Ex-Minister Jailed for Leaks
South Korean Court Sentences Ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to Three Years for Military Leaks
Key Points
The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 21 (led by Judge Jo Soon-pyo) convicted Kim Yong-hyun of violating both South Korea’s military secrecy laws and the Personal Information Protection Act.
In setting the prison term, the court also said it took into account Kim’s lack of remorse during the proceedings.
The ruling said Kim allowed civilian Noh Sang-won—who had been dishonourably discharged six years earlier—to access personal details of intelligence personnel.
Kim’s lawyers argued the decision was flawed because it treated information “that was neither designated, registered nor managed as a military secret as confidential,” potentially subjecting duties performed by military personnel to punishment based on the administration’s “political preferences.”
The court rejected the defense argument that the indictment was duplicative of a separate case tied to insurrection, clarifying that insurrection and military-secrecy offenses should be treated as distinct.
A Seoul court sentenced former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun to three years in prison on June 19 for leaking the names and personal data of more than 40 military intelligence personnel, according to Korea Herald. The leak was tied directly to President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed martial law bid in December 2024.
Judge Jo Soon-pyo of Seoul Central District Court said Kim's actions were among the "driving forces" behind the martial law declaration. Prosecutors had asked for five years. Kim's lawyers said they would appeal.
How Leaked Spy Names Fueled a Martial Law Plot
Between October and November 2024, Kim conspired with serving military officials to pass personal details of 40-plus Special Operations Team members to a civilian, Korea Herald reported. That civilian was Noh Sang-won, the former head of the Defense Intelligence Command — a man who had been dishonorably discharged six years earlier and held no active security clearance.
Prosecutors said the goal was to build a "second investigation team" under martial law. This shadow unit would pursue unsubstantiated election fraud claims from South Korea's 2024 general elections — claims the National Election Commission had already debunked. The court ruled that Kim violated both the Military Secret Protection Act and the Personal Information Protection Act.
Yoon's Martial Law Attempt Collapsed in Two Hours
On December 3, 2024, President Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law in a surprise televised address, citing "anti-state forces." Kim Yong-hyun was identified as the official who recommended the declaration to Yoon, according to The Edge Malaysia.
The attempt lasted barely two hours. At 1:00 AM on December 4, the National Assembly voted 190-0 to demand martial law be lifted. Kim resigned the next day. South Korea had not seen a martial law declaration attempted since the Chun Doo-hwan era of 1979 and 1980.
Court Rejects Defense Claim of No Real Secrets
Kim's lawyers argued the ruling was flawed. They said the leaked information "was neither designated, registered nor managed as a military secret." They also warned the verdict could punish routine military duties based on the administration's "political preferences," according to Korea Herald.
The court rejected that argument. It also threw out a separate defense claim that the secrecy charges overlapped too much with Kim's pending insurrection case. The judge ruled that treason and military data theft are distinct offenses. The court also noted Kim showed no remorse during the proceedings, a factor that shaped the final sentence.
Soldiers Compromised, Bigger Trials Still to Come
The leak forced a real human cost on South Korea's military. Exposing the identities of 40-plus special operations personnel likely means many must be reassigned or retired, according to BSS News. Their operational value is now severely limited.
Legal analysts say this sentencing sets a tone for bigger insurrection trials ahead. It shows South Korean courts will hand custodial sentences to senior officials regardless of rank or political ties. Meanwhile, the National Assembly is discussing new laws to set mandatory minimum sentences for officials who share military personnel data for political gain.
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