People Power Party lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho refuted the insurrection special investigation team's claim that he may have been aware of the martial law on December 3 in advance. Lawmaker Choo held a press conference at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 4th and stated, "It is entirely untrue that I and the People Power Party conspired in advance to declare martial law."
Lawmaker Choo was the floor leader of the People Power Party during the martial law crisis on December 3 last year. Jo Eun-sun, the insurrection special investigator, claims there is a possibility that Choo was aware of the martial law in advance and is currently conducting an investigation. There are also allegations that floor leader Choo changed the venue of the lawmakers' general meeting multiple times to obstruct the voting on lifting the martial law.
Lawmaker Choo denied all such allegations at the press conference that day. He said, "At the People Power Party's general meeting on December 2 last year, it was decided to hold a large-scale 'protest rally condemning Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party's excessive impeachment' in front of the main National Assembly building on December 4, with thousands of party members participating," and added, "The fact that we pursued a large-scale rally on December 4 itself is proof that none of the members of the People Power Party were aware of the martial law being declared on the night of December 3 in advance."
He pointed out, "Instead of talking based on novels, speculations, and guesses, evidence should be presented," and noted, "This special investigation might lead to misunderstandings that it is a politically motivated investigation or an investigation ordered by the Democratic Party."
He completely denied the allegations that he changed the venue of the general meeting multiple times to obstruct the voting on lifting the martial law. He stated, "I did not make any remarks or instructions regarding participation or non-participation in the voting to any People Power Party lawmakers who entered the National Assembly," and explained, "The initial venue for the general meeting was the National Assembly, but the subsequent change to the party office was an unavoidable follow-up measure made by the party leader at that time due to the National Assembly's access restrictions."
He mentioned that although they were able to access the National Assembly and changed the venue back to the National Assembly, they had no choice but to change the venue to the party office again as the police completely blocked access to the National Assembly.
Lawmaker Choo noted that he contacted National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik at 1 a.m. on the 4th after hearing the news of the National Assembly session and requested that measures be taken to allow lawmakers to enter the National Assembly. However, Speaker Woo refused the request, saying the ruling party should ask the police, adding that the required quorum for the vote had already been secured.
Lawmaker Choo also explained his phone call with former President Yoon Suk-yeol on the day of the martial law. He stated, "I had a brief conversation in which I explained simple talking points and he mentioned, 'I couldn't inform the ruling party's floor leader in advance,' and 'I'm sorry I couldn't tell you,' and then the call ended."
Lawmaker Choo stated, "No one from the People Power Party conspired with officials related to the martial law to obstruct the vote on lifting the martial law," and added, "The Democratic Party is fabricating a narrative of vote obstruction to politically suppress the People Power Party and is ordering an investigation that forcibly fits into the special investigation. I urge the special investigation to conduct a fair investigation to avoid being labeled as politically biased or an ordered investigation."