Im Sung-geun denies perjury charges

Dec 24, 2025, 08:50 am

		0
Im Sung-geun, former commander of the 1st Marine Division, arrives at the office of Special Prosecutor Lee Myung-hyun in Seocho District, Seoul, on Oct. 31, ahead of questioning related to the fallen Marine case. / Yonhap News

Im Sung-geun, former commander of the 1st Marine Division, denied perjury charges at his first court hearing, insisting that he testified “according to what he remembered” during National Assembly hearings.

The Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 22, presided over by Judge Cho Hyung-woo, held the first pretrial hearing on Dec. 23 for Im, who is accused of violating the Act on Testimony, Appraisal and Inspection before the National Assembly. Although defendants are not required to attend pretrial hearings, Im appeared in court.

Im’s legal team argued that his testimony regarding the Marine Corps’ Ssangyong exercise was not false, saying he spoke based on his recollection at the time. They also maintained that he did not provide his mobile phone passcode because he could not remember it during the parliamentary testimony, adding that he would have disclosed it had he recalled it. The defense further said Im still does not know Lee Jong-ho, former head of Black Pearl Invest.

The court said it would conduct one more pretrial session on Jan. 28 before moving to a full trial.

According to the special prosecution team led by Lee Myung-hyun, Im is accused of repeatedly committing perjury during hearings of the National Assembly’s Legislation and Judiciary Committee last year. Prosecutors allege he gave false testimony about the Ssangyong exercise, claimed he could not remember his phone passcode, and denied having met or known Lee.

Separately, Im is also standing trial on charges of professional negligence resulting in death in connection with the fallen Marine case.

#Im Sung-geun #perjury #National Assembly hearing #Marine Corps