National Assembly Defense Committee, Both Ruling and Opposition Parties Call 'Emergency Martial Law' "Shocking" and "Regrettable"

The Order to Deploy Troops to the National Assembly Came from Former Minister Kim Yong-hyun
Kim Sun-ho, Deputy Minister of National Defense, "It Is Devastating, Sad, and Painful"

The National Assembly Defense Committee (Defense Committee) held an emergency inquiry regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration and lifting of martial law. Kim Yong-hyun, the former Minister of National Defense known as the person who proposed the martial law, was dismissed before the inquiry and did not attend.

Seong Il-jong, chairman of the Defense Committee from the People Power Party, stated at the emergency inquiry held at the National Assembly on the morning of the 5th, "The martial law declared on the 3rd caused shock and anxiety among our people," adding, "There are parts that need to be clarified, such as why the military was deployed, who gave the order, and what the process was." At the Ministry of National Defense that day, Vice Minister Kim Seon-ho attended in place of former Minister Kim, and General Park An-su, Chief of Staff of the Army who served as the martial law commander from the declaration to the lifting of martial law, was also present.

Park An-su, Army Chief of Staff and martial law commander during the emergency martial law period (left), and Kim Seon-ho, Vice Minister of National Defense attending on behalf of former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun (right), are attending the urgent issue inquiry of the National Defense Committee held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties criticized the declaration of martial law. Regarding related inquiries, Vice Minister Kim repeatedly emphasized, "I have fundamentally opposed the deployment of military forces during martial law." General Park stated that he did not command the martial law troops deployed to the National Assembly and said, "I faithfully performed the task of organizing the situation room." He only responded that he was unaware of whether the martial law troops were armed or other details related to the martial law troops' activities on the 3rd and 4th.

Cho Guk, leader of the Innovation Party, questioned the entity that drafted the martial law proposal and deployed troops to the National Assembly. Cho asked Vice Minister Kim, "Who drafted the martial law proposal?" Kim replied, "The drafting entity cannot be confirmed, and as of now, it has been confirmed that the Ministry of National Defense did not draft it." Regarding the legality of the martial law, he said, "I think it will be judged later." When asked, "Who ordered the deployment of military units to the National Assembly?" General Park answered, "I do not know," while Vice Minister Kim said, "Former Minister Kim Yong-hyun gave the order."

Park An-su, Chief of Staff of the Army who served as the martial law commander, is speaking at the urgent issue inquiry of the National Defense Committee held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Yoo Yong-won, a People Power Party lawmaker, began by saying, "Over the past half-century, our military has made great efforts to shed the stigma of being political." He continued, "As a member of the ruling party, I apologize to the people for the occurrence of an unacceptable incident," and added, "I also apologize to the opposition lawmakers who advocated for martial law." In response to Yoo's request to speak as the highest responsible person, Vice Minister Kim said, "I would like to apologize once again to the people," adding, "I feel devastated, very sad, and distressed."

Ahn Kyu-baek, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, asked General Park, "Can martial law troops storm the National Assembly without the martial law commander's orders?" to which he replied, "I was not aware." Regarding whether the troops deployed to the National Assembly were armed, he said, "I do not know," and mentioned, "I did not know they were armed or that they were deployed." When asked if martial law troops could be deployed without the martial law commander's orders, he said, "After confirming through media reports later, I inquired with the martial law section chief about who had the authority."