Former President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 20th urged the ruling bloc to "stop undermining democracy and look after people's lives."
In a statement released that day by the defense team regarding the first-trial sentence of life imprisonment in the case alleging leadership of insurrection, the former president argued, "With investigations, a special counsel, and even a second special counsel, how many people are you trying to purge and how completely are you trying to bring down national security?"
The former president said, "I believe you, our great people, will once again uphold justice under the banner of liberal democracy," adding, "Our fight is not over. We must unite and rise."
◇The following is the full text of the former president's statement
Dear fellow citizens,
My judgment and decision to declare the Dec. 3 emergency martial law was solely for the nation and the people. There is no change even now in the sincerity and purpose of that decision.
However, the forces that slandered the patriotic decision for the nation as inciting insurrection and that seek to use it as an opportunity to purge and eliminate the opposition beyond political attacks will only become more aggressive going forward. Though it was a patriotic decision, I deeply apologize to the people for the many frustrations and hardships you ultimately had to endure due to my shortcomings.
The judiciary did not completely reject the political power of lies and agitation. It is some relief that it did not accept the special counsel's fiction and delusion that I declared emergency martial law because my attempt to set the stage for long-term rule did not go as intended. However, while acknowledging my sincerity, the logic that it is insurrection simply because the military went to the National Assembly is hard to accept.
In a situation where the independence of the judiciary cannot be secured and it is difficult to expect rulings based on law and conscience, I have deep doubts about what meaning a legal battle through appeal would have. I will again look forward to a reevaluation of my judgment and decision when liberal democracy stands firm in the Republic of Korea and the rule of law is properly established.
I no longer mind the judiciary's predetermined conclusion about me and the persecution by political power. However, it breaks my heart that many soldiers, police officers, and public officials are suffering under investigations and trials and that even their families are despairing under that pain. Responsibility for the decision-making process rests entirely with me. Please stop imposing any further harsh trials and persecution on them. Political retaliation against me alone is enough. With investigations, a special counsel, and even a second special counsel, how many people are you trying to purge and how completely are you trying to bring down national security?
Stop undermining democracy and look after people's lives.
I, Yoon Suk-yeol, will catch my breath for a moment in the court of the public square and shoulder all responsibility. However, I believe you, our great people, will once again uphold justice under the banner of liberal democracy.
Our fight is not over. We must unite and rise.
I pray that we rebuild the Republic of Korea not in defeat but by advancing with hope.