The Korea Herald

피터빈트

Ex-broadcast watchdog head likely to defend Yoon Suk Yeol in court: reports

By Son Ji-hyoung

Published : Dec. 11, 2024 - 15:56

    • Link copied

Former KCC chief Kim Hong-il (Pool photo via Newsis) Former KCC chief Kim Hong-il (Pool photo via Newsis)

Kim Hong-il, former chief of South Korea's broadcast watchdog the Korea Communications Commission, might serve as one of President Yoon Suk Yeol's attorneys should Yoon's legal troubles deepen, according to news reports Wednesday.

Kim, who had reportedly quit local law firm Shin & Kim, would be joined on a team of up to six attorneys, according to news reports.

This came as police accused Yoon of inciting insurrection by declaring martial law and cracking down on dissidents through an attempted coup.

The prosecution has also indicated that Yoon played a role in the insurrection, along with former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who has been in detention since Sunday.

Kim Hong-il was formerly Yoon's boss in the early 2010s when they worked at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office as prosecutors.

Kim quit the prosecution in 2013. Kim led the the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission from July to December 2023. He was later nominated as the KCC chief, serving in the post from December 2023 until July this year.

Yoon was previously prosecutor general for his predecessor as president, Moon Jae-in.

On the other hand, Minister of Government Legislation Lee Wan-kyu, who formerly defended Yoon in a case to nullify the Moon administration's disciplinary actions against Yoon as prosecutor general, told lawmakers at a committee meeting Wednesday that he would not join the group of attorneys defending Yoon.