Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, summoned as a witness in the trial over former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's alleged insurrection, appeared in court and testified that "former Prime Minister Han requested reconsideration in a contrary vein." Yoon had previously flip-flopped on whether he would appear but ultimately did, and he initially said he would not answer questions; as questioning continued, he answered selectively.
The Criminal Agreement Division 33 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan) held a continued first-instance hearing on the 19th for charges including engaging in an important duty related to insurrection and aiding insurrection against former Prime Minister Han. Former President Yoon, who was summoned as a witness at 4 p.m. that day, entered the courtroom wearing a navy suit and a white dress shirt.
After taking the witness oath, former President Yoon said, "I will refuse to testify because this is related to my case," and added, "My statements are all contained in the impeachment trial transcript and the Seoul Central District Court trial transcript, amounting to a thick book. You can refer to that."
Even as questioning continued, former President Yoon repeated phrases such as "I will not answer" and "it is all already out there," signaling his refusal to testify, but as direct examination by the special counsel investigating the insurrection case (Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-suk) went on, he began to answer selectively. He did not answer questions such as "By what process did you declare martial law?" and "What documents did you give the defendant?" saying he did not remember.
However, when the special counsel asked, "What did former Prime Minister Han and the other attendees say when they heard about the plan to declare martial law?" former President Yoon answered, "The defendant, Han Duck-soo, who was prime minister at the time, once requested reconsideration after hearing what I said."
He said, "(Former Prime Minister Han) asked me to think it over again, in a vein of opposition," adding, "I told former Prime Minister Han, 'The prime minister's view and the president's position are different in judgment,' and former Prime Minister Han tried to persuade me, while I, from the president's standpoint, tried to persuade the prime minister."
When the court asked whether former Prime Minister Han had clearly said he was opposed at the time, former President Yoon answered, "I do not know if he used the word 'oppose,' but I understood it in an opposing vein."
Former President Yoon also testified that other cabinet members at the time also made comments in a vein opposing the declaration of martial law. He said, "From the perspective of each ministry, I remember they said martial law would not help with their ministry's work and made negative remarks."
On this day, former President Yoon claimed that during martial law he told former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun that troops should not be deployed to places such as "Yonro Chosa Kkot." After the declaration of martial law, former Minister Kim called former President Yoon and said, "We may need to send troops to Yonro Chosa Kkot, the Democratic Party headquarters, and media companies. There is something to check regarding the National Election Commission (NEC)," and former President Yoon said he opposed it, saying, "They are civilian institutions, so no. Why are you sending people all over the place?"
Former President Yoon said, "I jumped up," and claimed, "Even under martial law, places like the NEC can be accessed by martial law forces under the Martial Law Act, but I said they must not go to civilian institutions." He continued, "I flatly said not to go, and former Minister Kim gave instructions, and in the end they did not go. As I understand it, everyone who had mobilized stopped."
When the court asked, "So there was no part of the deployment the witness authorized, and former Minister Kim did it?" former President Yoon answered, "He sought my approval, but I told him not to." However, when the special counsel asked, "Wasn't it because former Prime Minister Han suggested giving it a lawful appearance that you called Song Mi-ryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and told her to come quickly?" he raised his voice, saying, "Cabinet members are not dolls brought in to provide an appearance, and isn't that a question that reflects too much of your own view?"
To the question, "Are you aware that after the Cabinet meeting on the day martial law was declared, there were conflicts of opinion related to the ministries of the cabinet members?" he answered, "It was not about later trying to obtain the ministries of the cabinet members. That is absurd. Because emergency martial law is the exercise of emergency powers, I thought the procedural requirements could be applied flexibly."
Former President Yoon also claimed that, during martial law, he gave no instructions in his phone call with Choo Kyung-ho of the People Power Party, who was the party's floor leader at the time. He said, "It was in the vein that the constitutional order and state affairs had been paralyzed by the obstruction of government by the giant opposition party," adding, "I recall saying I was sorry I could not speak in advance because of prior security. It was not a situation where I was giving instructions."