Opposition Kim Byung-joo: "Kukbang Ilbo Glorifies Martial Law... Aiding Insurrection"

"Chaemo, Director of Defense Public Relations, Former Member of Yoon Seok-yeol Presidential Campaign"

The Defense Daily, a military daily newspaper published by the Defense Media Agency under the Ministry of National Defense, has been criticized for "sympathizing with rebellion."

On the 18th, Kim Byung-joo, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, "The Defense Daily on the 13th stated that 'the deployment of military forces to the National Assembly during the emergency martial law was to maintain order,' thereby sympathizing with rebellion," adding, "the word 'rebellion' cannot be found anywhere in the Defense Daily."

He criticized, "(The Defense Daily) is full of content that describes the emergency martial law as a 'highly political judgment' and an 'act of governance.' From this perspective, the martial law declaration by the rebellion ringleader Yoon Seok-yeol appears to be a very legitimate decision; in short, it glorifies rebellion."

Supreme Council member Kim said, "Behind this was Chae Mo, the head of the Defense Media Agency, who came from Yoon Seok-yeol's (presidential) campaign," and added, "Despite some staff members' opposition, he also instructed to give significant coverage to Yoon Seok-yeol's statement on the 12th."

He continued, "Not only the rebellion ringleader Yoon Seok-yeol but also the forces that sympathized with him must be rooted out," and argued, "The Defense Daily should be completely withdrawn from the Ministry of National Defense, and the head of the Defense Media Agency should be dismissed and sent to prison."

President Yoon Seok-yeol explained the circumstances of the martial law declaration through a national address on the morning of the 12th. President Yoon claimed, "The exercise of the president's martial law declaration authority was a warning to the opposition party and an act of governance that is not subject to judicial review, like the exercise of pardon power or diplomatic authority," asserting that it was not rebellion.