Author Hwang Sok-yong: "Yoon's Self-Destruction with Emergency Martial Law... Must Impeach"

Announced at the Founding Ceremony of the Anti-Japanese Revolutionary Commemorative Organization Federation

Novelist Hwang Seok-young criticized President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of martial law as "a very terrible delusion," saying, "The president must be impeached to stop the dangerously risky duty of military commander-in-chief."

Yonhap News reported on the 11th that Hwang made these remarks at a press conference held at the National Provisional Government Memorial Hall in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, during the founding meeting of the Anti-Japanese Revolutionary Commemorative Organizations Federation (Anti-Japanese Federation).

Hwang Sok-yong is giving a greeting speech at the founding conference of the Anti-Japanese Revolutionary Commemoration Organization Federation. Photo by Yonhap News

In September, Hwang also demanded President Yoon's resignation through a national emergency declaration issued by senior figures from labor, civic, social, and religious sectors gathered at the National Emergency Situation Meeting. He said, "At that time, half-jokingly and half-seriously, we said the Yoon Seok-yeol government would not last past the end of the year, and it seems that prediction came true," adding, "It was a difficult situation to even consider impeachment back then, but suddenly, he self-destructed."

He went on to criticize the investigation authorities for their passive stance on arresting President Yoon, pointing out, "Since there was a military rebellion, arresting without a warrant is legally justified under criminal law." He also said, "(President Yoon) will be pulled down by the lively young people in their 20s and 30s in the square."

Lee Joon-sik, former director of the Independence Hall, who attended the event with Hwang, also stated, "Independence movement-related organizations have repeatedly warned about the historical coup attempts by the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, such as the attempt to remove General Hong Beom-do's bust," and added, "I believe this attempted rebellion is a continuation of such historical coups."

The Anti-Japanese Federation, which declared its founding on this day, was formed to honor eight anti-Japanese revolutionaries: Kwon Oh-sang, Kwon Oh-seol, Kim Danya, Kim Tae-jun, Yeo Un-hyeong, Lee Gwan-sul, Lee Yuk-sa, and Lee Jae-yu. It is a coalition of nine organizations, including the Daegu Lee Yuk-sa Memorial Association, Mongyang Academy, and the June 10th Manse Movement Bereaved Families Association. The federation's establishment was planned for January this year, and it officially began its activities through this founding meeting. Hwang, who served as the preparatory committee chairman for the organization, was elected as the chairman at the founding ceremony.

The Anti-Japanese Federation plans to carry out various projects such as researching, collecting, and organizing information about anti-Japanese revolutionaries, restoring distorted history, and recording oral histories of the revolutionaries' bereaved families.