Counterintelligence Commander: "Martial Law, Right or Wrong, Soldiers Must Follow Orders"

Attendance at National Assembly Intelligence Committee to Explain Activities During Martial Law
"Heartbreaking Feelings, Sorry to the People and Subordinates"

General Yeo In-hyung, Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Counterintelligence Command, stated regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of martial law and the resumption of counterintelligence activities, "Putting aside right or wrong, I strongly believe that soldiers must follow orders in a crisis situation."

General Yeo made these remarks on the 7th during a meeting with reporters after appearing before the National Assembly Intelligence Committee. He said, "Because it is a crisis situation, when things are happening rapidly within 1 minute, 2 minutes, 10 minutes, or 20 minutes, there are truly many tasks that must be done," adding, "It is not easy for us to question whether the orders we receive are 'right or wrong'."

Yeo In-hyung, former Commander of the ROK Army Counterintelligence Command, is attending the full meeting of the Intelligence Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 7th. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

He said he was completely unaware of the martial law declaration beforehand and "found out by watching television." He added, "Since it happened so suddenly, I thought, 'Ah, this might be problematic,' so I made a great effort to proceed cautiously."

When asked about the "arrest orders for politicians and others," he did not give a direct answer but said, "At the time of the martial law declaration, I was planned to be appointed as the head of the joint investigation headquarters," and "I thought I should prepare for the duties I had to perform."

Regarding former National Intelligence Service First Deputy Director Hong Jang-won’s claim that he received a specific arrest list from him, General Yeo said, "We talked so much on the phone that I don't remember," and "Honestly, I don't even recall the list."

Although General Yeo is currently in a position where he must undergo investigation and thus finds it difficult to provide detailed explanations, he denied that the martial law troops deployed to the National Election Commission were personnel from the Counterintelligence Command. He expressed, "I feel truly devastated," and said, "I am sincerely sorry to the public, especially to my subordinates." He added, "As a soldier, in such a crisis situation, orders given must be followed inevitably."