South Korea’s Yoon defends his martial law decree in his first public appearance since his arrest

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea impeached president denied on Tuesday that he ordered the army to remove lawmakers from the National Assembly to prevent them from voting last month to reject his martial law decree, as he appeared for the first time before the Constitutional Court which will determine his fate.

Yoon Suk Yeol’s appearance in court was his first public appearance since becoming South Korea’s first sitting president. to be detained following his brief declaration of martial law, which plunged the country into a political unrest.

After abruptly imposing martial law on December 3, Yoon sent troops and police to surround the National Assembly, but enough lawmakers managed to vote unanimously to reject his decree, forcing Yoon’s cabinet to lift the measure early the next morning.

Yoon, a conservativehas since argued that sending troops was not intended to block the assembly but rather was a warning to the main liberal opposition Democratic Party, which used its legislative majority to obstruct the program Yoon, undermine his budget bill and remove some of his leaders. civil servants. In his martial law announcement, Yoon called the assembly a “den of criminals” that bogged down government business, and vowed to eliminate “the shameless supporters of North Korea and anti-state forces.”

Commanders of military units sent to the assembly disagreed with Yoon’s position. Kwak Jong-keun, commander of a special forces unit, told an assembly hearing that Yoon called him directly and asked his troops to “quickly destroy the gate and get the lawmakers out which are inside. Kwak said he did not carry out the order.

Asked by Acting Constitutional Court Chief Justice Moon Hyungbae whether he had ordered commanders to remove the lawmakers, Yoon said he had not.

Yoon said lawmakers could have met somewhere later to overturn the decree. He also argued that there would have been a popular backlash if he had tried to physically prevent a vote in the Assembly.

“If I had obstructed (the vote), I think I would not have been able to bear the consequences,” Yoon said.

Asked by Moon about reports that he gave a memo on establishing an emergency legislative body to a senior official before imposing martial law, Yoon said he did not do so. That Yoon plotted to launch such an organization would help explain his true intentions regarding martial law.

The assembly Yoon dismissed on December 14, suspending his presidential powers. The Constitutional Court has until June to decide whether to formally dismiss him as president or reinstate him in office. Observers say a court ruling should come sooner.

Separately, law enforcement authorities are investigating whether Yoon and others committed rebellion, abuse of power and other crimes in connection with the martial law decree. According to the law, the leader of a rebellion can be sentenced to life in prison or the death penalty.

Yoon earlier ignored multiple requests to appear for questioning and remained at his presidential residence in Seoul, although his defense minister, police chief and several top military commanders had already been arrested for their roles in enforcing martial law. He was finally arrested on January 15 when authorities mobilized hundreds of police and investigators near his home.

Although South Korean presidents enjoy broad immunity from prosecution while in office, this protection does not extend to allegations of rebellion or treason.

Yoon’s martial law decree has shaken South Korea’s diplomatic activities and financial markets and damaged its international image as a vibrant democracy. Yoon’s subsequent defiance and opposition efforts to oust him also intensified South Korea’s already serious situation. internal division.

After a Seoul District Court approved a formal arrest warrant on Sunday to extend Yoon’s detention, dozens of his supporters stormed the court building, destroying windows, doors and other goods. They also attacked the police officers with bricks, steel pipes and other objects. The violence injured 17 officers and police said they arrested 46 protesters.