Acting Minister of the Ministry of Interior and Safety, Go Gi-dong, said on the 13th that President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of martial law is 'unconstitutional.' He also noted that regarding whether there were minutes of the cabinet meeting held before President Yoon's declaration of martial law, 'there are no minutes.'
Acting Minister Go, during an inquiry on the martial law situation at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee this day, responded to Wi Sung-gon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, who asked, 'Do you think the martial law declared by President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 3rd is unconstitutional?' by saying, 'That's correct. I agree,' and added, 'One must not violate the Constitution and the law.'
In response to Democratic Party of Korea member Park Jong-hyun's question, 'Who is the force causing constitutional turmoil in South Korea currently?' Acting Minister Go said, 'I mentioned in the plenary session that this is being discussed regarding the president.' Later, when Park pointed out, 'It's not a discussion, it's current President Yoon Seok-yeol,' Acting Minister Go replied, 'I have made statements to that effect.'
The responses of Acting Minister Go to lawmakers' questions on this day were in a similar vein to those given during a National Assembly inquiry on urgent issues on the 11th. During the inquiry, Democratic Party member Seo Young-kyo asked, 'Was President Yoon Seok-yeol's martial law, led by a treason leader, illegal and unconstitutional?' to which Acting Minister Go said, 'I think so.'
When Democratic Party member Seo Young-kyo asked, 'Who is the leader of treason?' Acting Minister Go responded, 'I think the member will say it.' When Seo asked again, 'Who is the leader of treason? Who is the head of treason?' Acting Minister Go stated, 'It is currently being discussed as the president.'
Additionally, when Park Jong-hyun asked Acting Minister Go about 'the presence of cabinet meeting minutes before President Yoon's declaration of martial law,' Acting Minister Go said, 'I could not verify the substance, form, or procedure of the meeting,' and noted, 'There are no minutes.' When Seo asked, 'Is former Minister Lee Sang-min lying about the existence of minutes?' Acting Minister Go responded, 'To my recollection, it was intended to request minutes from the presidential office.'
The Ministry of Interior and Safety stated on the 11th that it received a response from the presidential office saying they do not possess details of participants' remarks regarding the cabinet meeting held ahead of President Yoon's martial law declaration on the 3rd.
It is said that the legislature of the Ministry of Interior and Safety typically handles tasks such as preparing minutes when cabinet meetings are held. However, as the cabinet meeting related to the declaration and lifting of martial law was convened unexpectedly, a legislature official was not present. Consequently, the Ministry of Interior and Safety requested related materials from the presidential office.
It is known that the presidential office communicated to the Ministry of Interior and Safety that while details such as the start and end times, location, attendees, and subjects of the cabinet meetings related to martial law declaration and lifting were recorded, they do not possess details of participants' remarks. According to the materials released by the Ministry of Interior and Safety, before the martial law declaration, the presidential office stated they did not possess details of meeting remarks, and after the martial law declaration, the Ministry of National Defense was noted as the only speaker apart from a proposal explanation by the defense minister.