▲ Former Marine Corps Commandant Kim Kye-hwan (C) appears at the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul to attend his arrest warrant hearing on July 22, 2025. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) ex-Marine chief-warrant hearing

(LEAD) Ex-Marine chief appears for arrest warrant hearing

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with hearing details)

SEOUL, July 22 (Yonhap) -- Former Marine Corps Commandant Kim Kye-hwan appeared Tuesday for a court hearing to review a warrant for his arrest over allegations that he and other high-ranking officials intervened in an initial probe into the death of a young Marine in 2023.

The retired three-star general is suspected of being involved in the alleged interference in the military probe of the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died while searching for torrential rain victims in July 2023 without safety equipment, such as a life jacket.

The team has focused on allegations that former President Yoon Suk Yeol burst into a rage during a meeting of senior presidential officials in July 2023, after being briefed on the results of the probe that found a senior Marine commander responsible for Chae's death.

During the two-hour hearing, Kim acknowledged for the first time that he had heard about Yoon's alleged outburst of anger after his previous repeated denials, according to his lawyer.

Kim is suspected of telling the top Marine investigator in charge of the initial probe of the episode about Yoon. He had previously denied doing so in testimonies made at the National Assembly and at court.

His lawyer said Kim could not speak about the specifics of what he had heard until now as he was informed about it through hearsay, arguing that the warrant request should be rejected as there are no concerns of flight or destruction of evidence.

Meanwhile, the special counsel team called for Kim's arrest in a briefing, citing his communications with other military officials that suggest a risk of evidence tampering.

The court will deliver its decision on whether to issue a warrant for Kim's arrest as early as later in the day.

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