Yoon denies ordering removal of lawmakers from parliament

Jan 22, 2025, 06:30 am

		0
President Yoon Suk-yeol attends the third hearing of his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Jan. 21, 2025./ Source: Joint Press Corps

AsiaToday reporter Kim Im-soo

President Yoon Suk-yeol has denied ordering the removal of lawmakers from the National Assembly during martial law, directly refuting the Assembly’s claim that the martial law declaration was unconstitutional.

He also dismissed allegations that he handed over a memo suggesting the establishment of an emergency legislative body, calling it “inherently contradictory.”

President Yoon appeared at the Constitutional Court in Seoul for the third hearing of his impeachment trial. Wearing a dark navy suit and a red tie, Yoon appeared in the courtroom with a stern expression.

When Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae asked, “Is the respondent (President Yoon) present?” Yoon stood up from his chair, confirming his presence, and then sat back down.

President Yoon made it clear that the declaration of martial law was a “presidential duty” to correct the crisis of liberal democracy.

In a statement submitted before his appearance at the court, Yoon’s side argued, “A state of national emergency, equivalent to wartime or similar situations, justifying the declaration of martial law, includes not only physical war situations but also significant threats to politics, economy, and security, leading to national paralysis and chaos. The President declared martial law to prepare for various forms of threats that bring chaos to national governance.”

Starting his argument at the court, President Yoon requested an opportunity to speak from Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae and emphasized liberal democracy.

“Since coming of age, I have lived with a firm belief in liberal democracy until this very day, and especially during my time in public service,” Yoon said.

He specifically refuted each reason for impeachment passed by the National Assembly.

Regarding the allegations that he ordered the removal of lawmakers gathered in the National Assembly to resolve the lifting of martial law after its declaration, Yoon stated that he never gave such orders and that there was no intention or plan to execute the martial law proclamation.

Yoon’s legal team said, “The respondent never ordered the arrest or detention of legal professionals during the declaration of martial law,” and “He never ordered the arrest of ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon or National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik.”

“It is not something that can be blocked or delayed by the National Assembly’s resolution,” the president said. “The National Assembly made a swift resolution that did not strictly adhere to the National Assembly Act. However, I immediately withdrew the military upon seeing that,” he added.

Regarding the proclamation issued immediately after the declaration of martial law, Yoon minimized its significance, saying, “The proclamation was to formalize the martial law,” and “There was no specific intention to execute it, no plan to implement it, and no organization to enforce the proclamation was included.”

Regarding the allegation that he handed over a memo suggesting the establishment of an emergency legislative body to Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok at around 10:40 p.m. on Dec. 3, Yoon denied it, saying, “I never gave such a note.”

#Yoon Suk-yeol #impeachment #trial