Former President Yoon Suk-yeol is understood to have said during his second comprehensive special counsel summons on the 6th, "I still believe martial law was lawful."
Special Counsel Deputy Kwon Young-bin stated accordingly at a regular briefing on the 8th that former President Yoon Suk-yeol largely denied the allegations in connection with the "martial law justification message suspicion" during his summons on the 6th. Because it was "lawful martial law," the directive to inform foreign countries of the reasons and background for declaring martial law was not illegal, and the charge of abuse of authority cannot be established, according to Yoon's side.
At the time, Yoon reportedly refused questioning by a special investigator who is a former police officer during the process, so the morning session did not proceed properly. The questioning reportedly moved forward only after discussions between the special counsel team and the defense led to Deputy Special Counsel Kwon joining the session.
Deputy Special Counsel Kwon explained that the controversy over shouting during Yoon's questioning was not true. He said voices were slightly raised while presenting views, which was relayed externally as shouting.
The special counsel said it does not see a need to further question the former president regarding the "martial law justification message suspicion." The suspicion is that immediately after the proclamation of emergency martial law on Dec. 4, 2024, Yoon directed that messages justifying martial law be delivered to allies, including the United States, through former chief Shin and former Office of National Security First Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo.
However, the special counsel plans to summon the former president again on the 13th as a suspect on a rebellion charge under the Military Criminal Act. On the 10th, former Office of National Security Director Shin Won-sik is scheduled to be questioned, followed by former National Intelligence Service (NIS) First Deputy Director Hong Jang-won on the 11th, and former NIS Director Cho Tae-yong on the 12th.
Meanwhile, the special counsel on this day was executing search and seizure warrants for the Ministry of Planning and Budget (formerly the Ministry of Economy and Finance) and then-budget office officials in connection with the "official residence relocation budget diversion suspicion." The core of the allegation is that in 2022, during construction for the presidential residence relocation, about 2.8 billion won from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety budget was illegally diverted to pay construction costs to 21gram, an unqualified firm.