Administrative Safety Minister acting on behalf, acting chief of Korean National Police Agency, and acting chief of Seoul Police Agency all expressed that the emergency martial law declared by President Yoon Suk Yeol is unconstitutional.
After Minister Lee Sang-min of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety resigned, Acting Vice Minister Ko Ki-dong, who took over, attended a National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee inquiry on the 13th. When asked whether the 'Dec. 3 emergency martial law' was unconstitutional, Ko answered, "(It) is unconstitutional."
Vice Minister Ko stated, "I believe that emergency martial law must not violate the Constitution and laws." Ko added, "At first, I thought the martial law declaration news was a false report. Upon arriving at the office, I checked the Constitution and pondered deeply if the martial law was reasonable."
Lee Ho-young, acting Korean National Police Agency chief in charge of detained Chief Cho Ji-ho, responded to Wi Seong-gon, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, at the same venue, regarding whether the emergency martial law was unconstitutional, saying, "(It) is unconstitutional." In response to the same question, Choi Hyun-suk, acting chief of Seoul Police Agency, noted, "I believe there is sufficient unconstitutionality."
Vice Administrator Choi replied "no" when Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Jung Chun-seng asked whether the police controlled the entry to the National Assembly without President Yoon Suk Yeol's orders. Choi further stated, "During the emergency martial law, Chief Kim of Seoul Police Agency did not share the situation and tried to control everything by himself."
Vice Administrator Lee answered "there was none at that time" when Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Lee Sang-sik asked if there was anyone who explicitly opposed the controversial control of National Assembly entry during the emergency meeting of Korean National Police Agency executives convened after the martial law declaration. When Democratic Party lawmaker Mok Kyung-jong requested an apology as a representative of the police, Lee stood up and bowed at a 90-degree angle to apologize.