Yoon's Lawyer Seok Dong-hyun: "Why Is Martial Law Treason? President's Legitimate Authority"

"Removing a Sitting President During Their Term Is More Like Rebellion"
"Martial Law Fundamentally Involves the Deployment of Soldiers"

Amid the ongoing Constitutional Court impeachment proceedings against President Yoon Seok-yeol following the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law,' Attorney Seok Dong-hyun, who is defending the detained President Yoon, emphasized that "the declaration of emergency martial law is not a rebellion but a legitimate exercise of presidential authority."

Attorney Seok Dong-hyun, who is representing President Yoon Seok-yeol, who has been detained

On the 1st, Attorney Seok posted on Facebook, "In a presidential system elected according to the constitution, why would the current ruling president incite a rebellion?" He added, "As seen in the '○○○ Rebellion' often appearing in our history, a rebellion refers to an uprising or riot initiated by those without current power against the ruling monarch, king, or ruling power to seize or take away power." He argued that President Yoon, as the national ruler, has no reason to incite a rebellion.

He further stated, "If there is any issue with a term-limited president elected by the people, it should be judged through elections. The act of arresting and trying to remove a sitting president during their term contains more elements of rebellion."

He also said, "There are claims that the president's declaration of martial law and mobilization of the military constitute riots, illegality, or rebellion. However, martial law is clearly one of the president's emergency powers stipulated in the constitution, and it fundamentally involves the deployment of soldiers." He continued, "Therefore, regarding martial law, the question should be whether the president's decision to declare martial law and the assessment of the situation before the declaration as a national crisis requiring martial law were correct or not, rather than criticizing the mobilization of the military, which is illogical."

Attorney Seok criticized, "While the opposition party turns a blind eye to the near paralysis of state affairs caused by repeated impeachment attempts, legislative dominance, and budget cuts throughout the first two and a half years of the president's term, as well as the rampant activity of pro-Jong and pro-North Korean factions, they become excited as if a great disaster has occurred over the president's six-hour martial law." He emphasized, "Even amid excitement and confusion, we must think rationally and look through the lens of common sense to find the answer."