Former President Yoon Suk-yeol denied in court that he had ever ordered former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min to cut power and water to news outlets during the Dec. 3 martial law.
On the 9th, Yoon appeared as a witness at the continued appellate hearing of Lee's case on charges including engaging in important duties related to insurrection, held by Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul High Court's insurrection-only panel (Presiding Judge Yoon Sung-sik), and testified to this effect.
Asked whether he had seen a document concerning cutting power and water to news outlets that former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun handed to Cabinet members on the day martial law was declared, he answered, "There was no attempt to cut power or water."
He added, "There was no deployment of police or soldiers to places where power or water was to be cut, and I never saw that document," he said. Yoon also let out a wry laugh.
To the follow-up question, "Were there no verbal instructions either?", he retorted, "When there was no intention to cut power or water, why would I give verbal instructions?"
Yoon also claimed that he never sent troops to the Democratic Party of Korea headquarters or to the polling agency Kkot. He testified, "Former Minister Kim Yong-hyun said over a secure phone that 'it would be good to go to the Democratic Party headquarters and the polling agency Kkot,' but I said, 'Private institutions are not allowed,' and told him not to act without a warrant."
He also mentioned that just before the proclamation of martial law, at a Cabinet meeting, Lee made remarks discouraging the proclamation. At the time, Lee, expressing concern over bloodshed and other matters under his ministry's purview, asked that the proclamation of martial law be carefully considered.
At the end of the hearing, the court directly asked Lee whether he knew the proclamation of martial law was unconstitutional or illegal. He answered, "None of the Cabinet members attending the meeting thought of unconstitutionality or illegality; they were concerned about the public reaction and the backlash."
On the 22nd, the court plans to hold a closing hearing to hear the final opinion and sentencing recommendation from Special Prosecutor for Insurrection Cho Eun-suk's team and the closing arguments from Lee's side.
Lee was indicted on charges of receiving from former President Yoon on Dec. 3, 2024, orders to blockade key institutions including the National Assembly and to cut power and water to news outlets, and directing then National Fire Agency Commissioner Heo Seok-gon to cooperate.
He also faces a perjury charge for allegedly giving false testimony during the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial arguments in Feb. 2025, to the effect that he had never ordered power or water cuts and had never received related orders from the president.
In the first trial, the court found him guilty of engaging in important duties related to insurrection and perjury and sentenced him to seven years in prison, but acquitted him of abuse of authority.