It has come to light that former Intelligence Commander Noh Sang Won, who led the alleged martial law planning at the Lotteria, was dishonorably discharged for forcibly molesting a female cadet during his tenure.
According to JTBC‘s report on Thursday, during his tenure as head of the Army Intelligence School in 2018, Noh summoned the victim, a cadet, to a drinking party on Armed Forces Day (October 1) and forcibly made physical contact. When the victim attempted to leave, saying she needed to return to her unit, Noh prevented her and continued the assault. The harassment allegedly continued even in the vehicle driven by his aide on the way back.
The victim promptly reported the incident to her unit’s legal office. After confirming the allegations, the Army immediately relieved Noh of his duties and filed criminal charges. The military court sentenced him to 1 year and 6 months in prison but exempted him from sex offender registration, citing the intelligence community’s need for identity protection. The court also reduced his sentence, considering his loss of status and honor.
During the Park Geun Hye administration, Noh served as Intelligence Commander and was deeply involved in planning and executing the December 3 martial law. He is said to have been a key figure in the shadow line orchestrating the martial law. As a junior to former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun at the Korea Military Academy, Noh reportedly drafted the martial law proclamation and created its implementation plan.
According to an investigation by the Special Task Force on Martial Law under the National Investigation Headquarters of the Korean National Police Agency, Noh met with Moon Sang Ho and two intelligence colonels at a Lotteria in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, two days before the martial law declaration. He allegedly instructed them to “prepare, as martial law will soon be declared” and discussed specific plans, including seizing control of the Central Election Management Commission servers. Investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting Noh intended to utilize the intelligence division’s North Korea infiltration unit (HID) during martial law.
The Democratic Party’s “Yoon Suk Yeol Coup Truth-Finding Committee” claims that Noh played a central role in coordinating the HID and assassination squads under the intelligence division, effectively controlling them to exert influence. He is also accused of meddling key personnel appointments to secure individuals critical to the martial law plan.
Evidence indicates that Noh coordinated the martial law execution through multiple phone calls with former Minister Kim when it was implemented. After the incident, he reportedly replaced his phone to evade investigation. The police suspect these actions were attempts to destroy evidence, leading to his emergency arrest and a request for a detention warrant. The court issued the warrant, citing evidence destruction and flight risk concerns.
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