"Criminal Act Article 87 Internal Rebellion · Military Criminal Act Article 7 Military Rebellion"
"Leader of Internal Rebellion Punished by Death, Life Imprisonment, or Life Detention
Jeon Du-hwan and Roh Tae-woo Were Also Punished Accordingly"
On the 4th at 4:40 a.m., Cho Kuk, leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, met with reporters in front of the National Assembly Rotunda Hall and criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'declaration of martial law.' Photo by Kim Hyun-min
Jo Guk, leader of the Jo Guk Innovation Party, criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of ‘martial law’ as “committing the crimes of ‘rebellion’ under Article 87 of the Criminal Act and ‘military rebellion’ under Article 7 of the Military Criminal Act.” Jo stated this during a meeting with reporters at 4:40 a.m. in front of the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly, saying, “President Yoon Seok-yeol himself completed the grounds for impeachment last night.”
Jo said, “President Yoon suddenly declared so-called martial law in the middle of the night,” adding, “It was an illegal act that did not follow any procedures or requirements. All citizens were shocked.” He continued, “The person who created the national emergency was no one else but the president himself,” emphasizing, “This was rebellion. It was a military coup. President Yoon Seok-yeol himself is the anti-state force.”
Jo also stated, “Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the Martial Law Act stipulates that ‘when the president declares or intends to declare martial law, it must go through the State Council’s deliberation,’” adding, “There is no trace that the State Council convened to discuss martial law. In other words, both the content and procedure violated the Constitution and laws.” He went on, “The National Assembly adopted a resolution to lift the martial law through proper procedures just two and a half hours after the president’s declaration and immediately sent it to the government,” pointing out, “President Yoon said he would lift the martial law early this morning, but claimed that the State Council did not have a quorum, so the decision to lift martial law could not be made.”
Jo said, “This martial law is nothing but a coup d’?tat launched by President Yoon’s loyal forces, and a failed coup at that,” calling it “the first martial law in 45 years since the military rebel forces blocked the streets with tanks in 1979.” He also said, “Those who conspired with the Minister of National Defense, who is said to have proposed this, are all a disgrace to the Republic of Korea and enemies of democracy,” stressing, “All of them must stand trial under the law.”
Jo explained, “The Jo Guk Innovation Party has previously compiled 15 grounds for impeachment against President Yoon Seok-yeol. Now, the ‘crime of rebellion’ has been added,” and added, “The 5.18 court ruled that ‘if a member of the National Assembly is prevented from entering the National Assembly or convening meetings, it makes it impossible for constitutional state institutions to exercise their authority, which itself constitutes the crime of rebellion.’” He continued, “The ringleaders of rebellion are subject to death penalty, life imprisonment, or life imprisonment with labor. Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were punished accordingly,” emphasizing, “No citizen will now follow this illegal martial law, which is a disruption of the constitutional order and a military rebellion.”
Jo warned, “We issue a warning to our armed forces. The military must immediately return to their posts and await the people's orders,” adding, “If they attempt to enforce the martial law nullified by the National Assembly’s resolution, it will be a criminal act. It falls under Article 5 of the Military Criminal Act, ‘crime of rebellion.’” He said, “Now all our citizens have seen the bottom of President Yoon Seok-yeol. Whatever you imagine, he is crossing that line,” and declared, “We cannot stand by any longer. He must be impeached.” Jo concluded by saying, “President Yoon Seok-yeol himself is an extremely dangerous figure and a criminal who destroys and tramples the Constitution,” and “Once the sun rises, his presidential duties must be immediately suspended.” He ended by saying, “I will stand with the people to resist martial law and protect democracy.”
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