On the 11th, the special investigation team summoned People Power Party lawmaker Jo Gyeong-tae as a witness regarding the alleged 'obstruction of the lifting of martial law' involving former President Yoon Suk-yeol.
That day, at around 7:50 a.m., lawmaker Jo arrived at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, where the special investigation team's office is located. Upon his arrival, Jo told reporters, "The rebellion is still ongoing, and there are factions within the party that sympathize with the rebellion."
He added, "As a member of a constitutional institution, I have an obligation to protect the safety and lives of the people," and stated, "I will provide detailed accounts of what I experienced that morning."
When asked how the situation was conveyed among the leadership of the People Power Party during the parliamentary vote, he replied, "It seems that conversations in the (People Power Party) group chat got tangled, and there is no doubt that confusion was created," and he revealed, "I went straight into the National Assembly."
Lawmaker Jo is one of the 18 People Power Party members who participated in the vote for the resolution to lift the state of emergency in the early hours of December 4th last year. The resolution passed with 190 members present and 190 votes in favor, despite 90 out of 108 People Power Party members not participating. Subsequently, around 4:27 a.m., President Yoon lifted the declaration of the state of emergency.
The special investigation team is investigating whether former President Yoon Suk-yeol and then-Minority Leader Choo Kyung-ho among several People Power Party lawmakers, had a role in the background of the failure of many party members to attend the vote on lifting martial law.
Meanwhile, the special investigation team announced that they plan to summon People Power Party lawmaker Kim Yeo-ji as a witness at 2 p.m. that day. Lawmakers Jo and Kim are among the two of the 18 People Power Party members who participated in the vote on the resolution to lift martial law last year.