Sangmin Lee: "Unaware it was a 'pre-martial law' Cabinet meeting, gathered in Yongsan... All ministers expressed concern"

May 5 National Assembly Public Administration Committee 'Emergency Martial Law' Current Issues Inquiry
Lee Sang-min "Cabinet Meeting Held After 10 PM"

Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min revealed that he only learned about the Cabinet meeting held on the evening of the 3rd, when President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law, after arriving at the Yongsan Presidential Office. While he found it difficult to disclose the list of Cabinet members who attended the meeting, Minister Lee explained that all ministers expressed concerns about the martial law.

Minister Lee made these remarks on the morning of the 5th during an urgent inquiry on martial law at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, responding to a question from Lee Hae-sik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. When asked about the time he was informed of the Cabinet meeting by the Presidential Office, Minister Lee replied, "I received a message around lunchtime that there might be a schedule with the President, and I arrived in Seoul shortly after 8 p.m."

Police Chief Jo Ji-ho is attending an urgent inquiry on the police response during martial law at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The Cabinet meeting is estimated to have started around 10 p.m. and lasted about 20 minutes until 10:27 p.m., when President Yoon declared martial law. Minister Lee explained, "When I arrived (at the Presidential Office), a few ministers were already there, and when I met the President, he said he would declare martial law. After that, the quorum was met shortly after 10 p.m." When asked if the meeting lasted about 20 minutes before the martial law announcement, he answered, "That's correct."

Minister Lee added that all Cabinet members who heard about the martial law at the Presidential Office expressed concerns at the time. However, he refrained from commenting on whether there was support or opposition. He said, "There were various voices among the ministers, mostly expressing concerns. I also expressed my concerns. But that meeting was a deliberation session. It was a place to express concerns and various opinions, not to take a stance for or against."

Minister Lee further noted, "At that time, the President said, 'The perception of the situation and sense of responsibility felt by each Cabinet member is different from that felt by the President as the Commander-in-Chief of the nation.'"

When asked who contacted him and who among the Cabinet members attended the Cabinet meeting before the martial law declaration, Minister Lee did not respond. Regarding the attendees, he added, "They will naturally be recorded in the minutes. According to the media, there were 11 members, which is likely correct."