Inside the Korean parliament headquarters, where parliamentarians meet and vote
While lawmakers tried to enter the parliament building in the Korean capital to vote to prevent martial law late on December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol called Mr. Lee Jin-woo, Commander of the Defense Command. Seoul National Guard, saying the armed forces have the right to open fire if necessary to open the way into the place.
Information was given by the Korean prosecutor in today’s (December 28) indictment in the case of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun related to the declaration of martial law.
“Why haven’t you entered (the parliamentary headquarters) yet? What are you doing? Just break down the door and drag them (parliamentarians) out, even shoot if necessary,” the indictment cited. President Yoon’s alleged instructions to Mr. Lee.
General Kwak Jong-keun, head of the Military Counterintelligence Command, also received orders from President Yoon to quickly enter the building, use an ax to break the door if necessary, and drag the people inside out.
The indictment provided to the media by the Korean prosecutor also mentioned that Mr. Yoon said on December 3 that he could declare martial law up to three times if necessary, AFP reported.
After lawmakers entered the National Assembly and voted to nullify President Yoon’s declaration in the early morning of December 4, the leader told Mr. Lee that he could declare martial law a second or third time. .
The indictment also includes screenshots of messages from several senior defense officials on December 3. Besides, there is evidence that Mr. Yoon has discussed the possibility of declaring martial law since March.
Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol’s lawyer Yoon Kab-keun rejected the above content in the indictment, saying it was just a one-sided statement and did not fit the objective circumstances.
One day ago (December 27), the Korean National Assembly also passed a motion to impeach acting President Han Duck-soo, with all 192 lawmakers participating in the vote voting in favor.
