President Yoon's side Seok Dong-hyun: "Martial law declared based on judgment of national emergency... No arrest orders given"

"President Yoon and I Communicated Fully... Also Saw Each Other"
"Will Announce Official Position Once Defense Team Is Formed"

On the 19th, Seok Dong-hyun, lawyer for President Yoon Seok-yeol (15th Judicial Research and Training Institute), stated that "President Yoon's position is that he inevitably declared martial law under the judgment of a national emergency."

Seok also said, "President Yoon said he never even mentioned the word 'arrest,'" indicating that the president told him there was no order to arrest politicians or others at the time of the martial law declaration. This is a claim that President Yoon did not conspire to commit insurrection.

Lawyer Seok Dong-hyun, known as President Yoon Suk-yeol's friend of 40 years, is answering questions from reporters on the afternoon of the 19th in front of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, regarding President Yoon's stance on the 'December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident.' Photo by Choi Seok-jin

Communicating with President Yoon, even met face-to-face... "Is there such a thing as a pre-announced insurrection?"

Seok, a classmate of President Yoon from Seoul National University Law School and a friend of 40 years, said this to reporters in front of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, in the afternoon.

When asked, "Are you communicating with the president? Did you meet him in person or contact him by phone?" he replied, "We are communicating sufficiently within the necessary scope," adding, "I can even say that I have seen him face-to-face."

Regarding the background of holding this press conference, he said, "Soon, a legal team will be formed and a public relations officer will be appointed, but if I remain silent and keep quiet, you and the public will be frustrated. The president, as a representative of the people, thought that such communication during the preparation period is necessary through someone to broaden the understanding and sympathy of the people." However, he asked for understanding that, as he previously announced on his Facebook, he is not representing the legal team and can only respond in a limited manner.

First, when asked by reporters, "Is President Yoon's position that it is not insurrection?" he answered, "Basically, through the president's press conference, which is broadcast to the public, media, and even overseas, martial law was declared. If this is seen as insurrection, where is the insurrection that is announced in advance? He thinks, 'Where is the insurrection that stops just because the National Assembly demands its repeal within 2-3 hours according to constitutional procedures?'"

He continued, "(The declaration of martial law) is a shocking situation, but President Yoon saw it as a national emergency situation threatening the country and thought it necessary to declare martial law," he conveyed. However, Seok said, "The legal position will be clarified later through the legal team."

Regarding President Yoon, who had said he would take legal and political responsibility for this incident and recently stated, "I will face investigations or impeachment confidently," Seok said, "It means that in the upcoming judicial or constitutional court procedures, as president, he will sincerely explain why he judged it a national emergency and chose to declare martial law as a constitutional measure, and the difficulties he faced as the highest national official in making that decision."

Seok Dong-hyun, a lawyer who is a classmate of President Yoon Suk-yeol at Seoul National University Law School and a friend of 40 years, met with reporters in front of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building on the 19th to express his position on the investigation into President Yoon's alleged charges of insurrection and the impeachment trial. Lawyer Seok is answering reporters' questions. Photo by Heo Young-han

"He said he never even mentioned the word 'arrest'... Regret over investigation situation"

Seok conveyed that President Yoon completely denies claims that he ordered the arrest of 14 people, including Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, and Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, at the time of the martial law declaration, or that he ordered lawmakers to be dragged out of the National Assembly.

When asked, "There are statements saying 'he ordered to drag out lawmakers.' Is the president denying all of that?" he replied, "I am treading a fine line on what I can answer, but what I can say for sure is that the president, who is also a legal expert, never used the term 'arrest.' He said he never even mentioned the word 'arrest.'"

After hearing this, a citizen asked, "Did he say he never even mentioned the word 'drag'?" He answered, "Yes." He then questioned, "It's not about whether he said the word 'arrest' or not, but if he did order arrests, where exactly would they be taken?"

Seok said, "In other words, fewer than 300 soldiers who were not operational commanders entered, and only that number was around the vast National Assembly building. Also, the president is known to have given instructions and requests such as 'Do not clash with citizens at all,' and it is assumed that this included citizens other than the military and National Assembly officials."

However, he said, "This is not the place to express my personal thoughts, and the president's position on such matters is basically in the statements released after the lifting of martial law and subsequent statements. Especially from a legal perspective, accurate and objective verification of the detailed situation at the time is necessary. It is expected to be resolved through judicial and constitutional court procedures."

Seok also expressed regret over the recent situation where investigative agencies such as the prosecution, police, and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials have competitively investigated President Yoon, labeling him as the ringleader of insurrection.

When asked if the delay in forming the legal team was a stalling tactic, he said, "There are several people willing to participate in the legal team," adding, "Sometimes they have to leave their current offices and suspend work for existing clients, which is an issue."

He continued, "Of course, not everything can be explained by that time-wise, but the president saw it as a national emergency and, after much deliberation, reached the point of declaring martial law while taking measures to minimize clashes with citizens. In such a situation, how could they immediately frame it as insurrection and have investigative agencies competitively investigate over the past week? It seems the situation is gradually being clarified."

On this day, Seok also distributed to reporters a public statement issued by President Yoon on the 12th, which reveals the president's state of mind before the press conference began.

Regarding criticism that President Yoon is delaying by refusing searches or document receipt by the Security Office, he said, "There will be procedural steps. The president cannot suddenly intervene, nor will that happen. When trials and impeachment hearings occur, at the appropriate time, the president will not hesitate to express his position in a manner appropriate to the procedures and stages."

He also claimed to sense recent changes in public opinion. He said, "Many people, including citizen experts, have been sending me information. Besides simple national approval ratings, there are many claims and debates among youth and on the internet and cyberspace," adding, "They told me that from the initial chaotic state of one-sided confusion, the public is gradually calming down and regaining composure."

However, on this day, Seok avoided direct answers to sensitive questions regarding the illegality of the martial law proclamation and allegations of election fraud.

Lawyer Seok Dong-hyun, known as President Yoon Suk-yeol's friend of 40 years, met with reporters on the afternoon of the 19th in front of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building in Seocho-dong, Seoul, and held a brief press conference regarding President Yoon's position on the 'December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident.' He was then surrounded by reporters and YouTubers, unable to leave. Photo by Choi Seok-jin

Meanwhile, several YouTubers attended the press conference along with reporters and asked Seok questions. During this, some disputes broke out among the YouTubers.

After the conference, Seok was surrounded by a sudden crowd of photographers and YouTubers and was unable to move for a while before entering the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office building.

Seok resigned and left the prosecution in 2012, when he was the head of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office, taking responsibility for the controversy over the sexual relationship of Jeon Mo, a former Seoul Eastern District Prosecutor from the law school track (1st Bar Exam), who was a suspect at the time.