Han Deok-su: "I Convened the Cabinet Meeting... Trying to Prevent Yoon's Declaration of Martial Law"

Han Deok-su's Emergency Appearance for National Assembly Urgent Issue Inquiry

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo explained the background of holding the Cabinet meeting at the time President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law. He stated that President Yoon tried to declare martial law without going through the Cabinet meeting, and he tried to stop it.

On the same day, during the National Assembly's "Emergency Questioning on President Yoon Seok-yeol's Unconstitutional Martial Law Declaration and Acts of Rebellion," Prime Minister Han responded to a question from Choi Hyung-doo, a member of the People Power Party, explaining the process of convening the Cabinet meeting at that time.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is responding to a question from Seo Young-kyo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, during the 'Emergency Questioning on President Yoon Suk-yeol's Unconstitutional Declaration of Martial Law and Acts of Rebellion' held at the National Assembly plenary session on the 11th.

He said, "I (Prime Minister Han) suggested convening the Cabinet meeting," adding, "I gathered the Cabinet members to oppose this issue and to persuade them about the consequences it would bring." Prime Minister Han stated, "The President said he would impose martial law, and I thought this was not something that one or two people could do," and "I was not trying to cover up any procedural flaws in the martial law process."

Prime Minister Han said, "I do not know how the situation was planned at the time, but I thought that if everyone gathered, they would share the same thoughts," and added, "The meeting itself had procedural and substantive flaws."

When asked by Representative Choi whether he thought martial law should be stopped, he replied, "Of course," and said, "Even if martial law is activated under any circumstances, martial law cannot surpass the economy, external credibility, and the level of the people that have developed so far." He continued, "I am sorry and regretful for ultimately not being able to stop (the martial law)."

Prime Minister Han also emphasized cooperation between the government and the political circles in the current crisis. He said, "If it becomes known externally that the political circles cooperate but the government does not, a situation like the 1997 financial crisis could occur."

Earlier, during a current affairs inquiry by Seo Young-kyo of the Democratic Party of Korea, Prime Minister Han bowed four times while saying, "I am sorry."