Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 9th to soldiers and junior officers who participated as martial law troops during the martial law period, "You have done nothing wrong. On the contrary, thank you."
On the same day, through social media (SNS), Lee said, "Although it is late, I wanted to say this," and recalled, "The most frightening moment when the unreal martial law, which felt like a movie, became a living reality was the deployment of heavily armed martial law troops to the National Assembly."
On the afternoon of the 9th, marking the fifth day of the railway union strike, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the Railway Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and delivered opening remarks. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
He continued, "I cannot forget the eyes of the martial law troops deployed at that time," adding, "In the wavering between conscience and orders, the chaos of the entire Republic of Korea was fully reflected. The timid gesture of trying not to use force against innocent citizens was heartbreaking."
Lee stated, "Most of the junior officers and soldiers were thoroughly exploited by the instigators of the rebellion, Yoon Seok-yeol and Kim Yong-hyun, along with some commanders," and added, "Those who undermined the foundation of the constitution and democracy by using soldiers who moved under orders without knowing the operation, the arrows aimed at the martial law troops should have been directed at those who gave the orders."
He said, "I saw footage of the martial law troops bowing to citizens while withdrawing after the martial law was lifted," and added, "I hope the memories of that brief moment on the scene do not leave emotional scars on them."
He continued, "To the proud soldiers of the Republic of Korea, I want to bow to those who bowed," and said, "'You have done nothing wrong. On the contrary, thank you.'"
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