DistantNews
Support us
Yoon Suk-yeol Testifies Martial Law Declaration Lacked Master Plan
🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Yoon Suk-yeol Testifies Martial Law Declaration Lacked Master Plan

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Former President Yoon Suk-yeol stated that the declaration of martial law was merely a proclamation, lacking a master plan.
  • He reportedly told investigators that he gave the martial law document to a minister after being asked by former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun.
  • The special prosecutor's office also determined that former JCS Chairman Kim Myung-soo ignored requests to withdraw troops from parliament during the martial law period.

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol testified that the declaration of martial law during his tenure was simply a proclamation, devoid of any overarching strategy or "master plan." This statement was made during an investigation by the second special prosecutor, Chang Young Kwon.

When questioned about the purpose and timeline of the martial law, Yoon reportedly stated, "It was just a proclamation, and therefore no follow-up measures were taken." He also addressed the martial law document, which included provisions for establishing a state of emergency legislation. Yoon explained that he handed this document to a minister after former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun requested it.

Separately, the special prosecutor's office concluded that former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Myung-soo disregarded requests from his staff to withdraw troops deployed to the National Assembly during the 1979 martial law period. Special Prosecutor Chang Young Kwon announced these findings, along with other indictment and investigation results, at the special prosecutor's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.

It was just a proclamation, and therefore no follow-up measures were taken.

— Yoon Suk-yeolFormer President Yoon Suk-yeol's response when asked about the purpose and timeline of the martial law declaration during a special prosecutor investigation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog