Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is in custody and on trial on charges including being a ringleader of insurrection in connection with the Dec. 3 martial law, claimed that the declaration of martial law was "an urgent message to the people to rise up while facing the crisis of sovereignty being usurped."
On the 3rd, through attorney Bae Ui-cheol, the former president conveyed a statement titled "A message to the people on Dec. 3," saying, "The Dec. 3 martial law was a resolute fulfillment of the constitutional duty to defend the Constitution to protect the freedom and sovereignty of the people against a plot to overthrow the system by paralyzing state affairs and collapsing the free constitutional order."
He said, "Amid an unprecedented 'agitational impeachment, bulletproof impeachment, treasonous impeachment' in constitutional history, budget cuts, and legislative overreach that paralyzed state affairs and put the constitutional order in crisis, I sought to restore the liberal democratic constitutional order by declaring a state of emergency, which is the authority of the president."
The former president said, "I thank the people who faced this national crisis and shared the intent of declaring a state of emergency, especially the young people who rose up resolutely," but added, "However, I fell short. I cannot contain my deep apology for failing to stop the gale of insurrection-mongering by forces that disturbed the constitutional order and for causing emotional hurt and inconvenience to the people."
He continued, "Soldiers and public officials who have devoted their lives to the nation are suffering hardship. There must not be cases in which they are oppressed and made to suffer simply for following the president's legitimate orders. All responsibility lies with me, who was the commander in chief." He added, "Now is the time to unite tightly against an unjust and illegitimate dictatorial regime. Please take out a 'red card' together against the regime that tramples the people."
Below is the full text of the former president's message.
< A message to the people on Dec. 3 >
The Dec. 3 martial law was a resolute fulfillment of the constitutional duty to defend the Constitution to protect the freedom and sovereignty of the people against a plot to overthrow the system by paralyzing state affairs and collapsing the free constitutional order. It was an urgent message for the sovereign people to awaken and directly check the representative power that brought about a national crisis and to rise up while facing the crisis of sovereignty being usurped.
The Democratic Party's parliamentary dictatorial power impeached government officials as many as 30 times and completely cut core budgets for security, defense, and the economy. With more than 1,200 cases of illicit hiring and indications that both voting and ballot counting can be hacked, the election commission's fairness was under serious threat.
With the Democratic Party opposing the expanded application of the espionage law, Korea is becoming a haven for spies, and espionage activities by figures such as officials of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions who received orders from the North are running rampant. Even though such pro-China and pro–North Korea acts of treachery are rampant, the parliamentary dictatorial power had no regard for the people.
Amid an unprecedented 'agitational impeachment, bulletproof impeachment, treasonous impeachment' in constitutional history, budget cuts, and legislative overreach that paralyzed state affairs and put the constitutional order in crisis, I sought to restore the liberal democratic constitutional order by declaring a state of emergency, which is the authority of the president.
I thank the people who faced this national crisis and shared the intent of declaring a state of emergency, especially the young people who rose up resolutely. However, I fell short. I cannot contain my deep apology for failing to stop the gale of insurrection-mongering by forces that disturbed the constitutional order and for causing emotional hurt and inconvenience to the people. Also, soldiers and public officials who have devoted their lives to the nation are suffering hardship. There must not be cases in which they are oppressed and made to suffer simply for following the president's legitimate orders. All responsibility lies with me, who was the commander in chief.
People, we are now witnessing the rampage of dictatorship and the collapse of the rule of law that even destroy the independence of the judiciary, following legislative dictatorship, the dismantling of the prosecution service, a four-tier trial system, the capture of the judiciary through increasing the number of Supreme Court justices, threats to impeach the chief justice, and the establishment of a court dedicated to insurrection. The destruction of the constitutional order is right before our eyes.
Now is the time to unite tightly against an unjust and illegitimate dictatorial regime. Please take out a "red card" together against the regime that tramples the people. Come together as one and move forward.
Now is the time to rise again for the freedom, rule of law, and defense of sovereignty of the Republic of Korea. Step over me and rise. This country belongs to you, the sovereign people.
Dec. 3, 2025 Yoon Suk-yeol