Kim Tae-hyo urged U.S. to accept martial law justification documents despite initial refusal

Former South Korean Deputy National Security Advisor Kim Tae-hyo allegedly pressured officials to expedite the delivery of official diplomatic messages to the United States. These messages aimed to justify an emergency martial law declaration in December 2024, according to a report by Hankyoreh, which obtained Kim's indictment documents.

Prosecutors claim Kim was tasked by then-President Yoon Suk-yeol to convey the rationale behind the martial law to allied nations, including the U.S. The indictment states that on December 3, 2024, Yoon instructed Kim and former National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik to explain the martial law's purpose to the U.S. Yoon reportedly told Kim to emphasize that the measures were to protect liberal democracy and that foreign policy would remain unchanged.

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This is a presidential directive, so it must be carried out.

Kim then directed the foreign policy secretary to relay this message to the U.S. The prosecution alleges Kim continued these justification efforts even after the National Assembly demanded the lifting of martial law. On December 4, Yoon again instructed Kim to explain the background and intent of the martial law to the U.S., reportedly emphasizing specific points.

Kim compiled a two-page "summary of explanation" for the U.S. The first page, intended for both the Biden administration and then-President-elect Trump's team, stated that Yoon declared martial law as a political demonstration within constitutional bounds due to parliamentary paralysis caused by impeachment motions and budget cuts. It argued that the opposition's actions threatened the substantive destruction of South Korea's constitutional order.

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Explain to the U.S. that this measure is to protect liberal democracy and that diplomatic and foreign policy will remain unchanged.

The second page, exclusively for Trump's team, added that President Yoon prioritized U.S.-South Korea relations and would maintain this stance with the new U.S. administration. It also expressed support for Trump's philosophy and clarified that the martial law was not a power struggle with the opposition but a matter of conviction in liberal democracy and Christian values.

Even after the U.S. expressed reservations about receiving unofficial documents, Kim reportedly insisted on formal transmission, stating it was a presidential directive. The summary was eventually delivered to the White House and Trump's team. The special prosecutor's team believes Kim also sent similar messages to Japan, the UK, the EU, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

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The U.S. side responded that it could not receive unofficial documents.