[AK Radio] What Is the Truth Behind the 'Choi Sangmok Note'?

Yoon Seok-yeol vs Choi Sang-mok, Conflicting Claims
Yoon: "I never gave it"
Choi: "I received it"
Opposition: "Choi didn't read it? Hard to believe"

Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, appeared on February 6 at the 3rd hearing of the "Special Committee on the National Investigation into the Charges of Insurrection through the Declaration of Martial Law by the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration (National Investigation Special Committee)" held at the National Assembly. Acting Prime Minister Choi, appearing at the hearing for the first time, repeatedly testified that he received a note from President Yoon Seok-yeol during the martial law on December 3 last year. On that day, Acting Prime Minister Choi said about President Yoon's declaration of martial law, "I thought it was a wrong decision and strongly opposed it at the time."

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What draws attention is the truth about the one-page A4 note. This note contains contents such as securing contingency funds sufficiently as soon as possible, completely blocking the National Assembly-related budget, and preparing a budget for the national emergency legislative body. There are two key points. Whether 'President Yoon gave the note to Acting Prime Minister Choi' and whether 'Acting Prime Minister Choi read the note.'

If President Yoon gave it, the possibility of proving 'disruption of the national order' increases

If it is true that President Yoon gave the note, contrary to President Yoon's claim that "martial law was declared as a warning," there is a high possibility of proving 'disruption of the national order' related to Article 87 of the Criminal Act on insurrection, as it shows an attempt to neutralize the National Assembly and create a separate legislative body. Also, if Acting Prime Minister Choi read the note, it could correspond to the insurrection crime of 'acquiescence and compliance (附和隨行, a passive attitude or behavior of simply following others)'. Under the insurrection crime, the ringleader is punishable by death or life imprisonment, those who commanded or were involved in important duties are punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for five years or more, and those who acquiesce or are simply involved are punishable by imprisonment or detention for up to five years. The author of the 'Choi Sang-mok note,' the person who ordered its delivery, and whether it was confirmed are important reasons in the investigation of insurrection charges.

Acting Chief Choi Sang-mok, who appeared at the 3rd hearing of the National Assembly Special Committee, is talking with Chief Presidential Secretary Jeong Jin-seok.

Acting Prime Minister Choi said, "(Right after the martial law meeting, the president) called out, 'Minister of Economy and Finance!' and someone next to him gave me a reference material. It was a note in the form of an A4 paper folded three times horizontally." He added, "I did not think it was an order, but thought it was reference material." However, President Yoon denied ever giving such a note to Acting Prime Minister Choi. On the 21st of last month, during the Constitutional Court impeachment trial, President Yoon said, "I never gave this, and I saw in the news that a memo came out later." Former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun said at the Constitutional Court on the 23rd of last month, "It was not President Yoon but I who wrote the note and delivered it to Acting Prime Minister Choi through a staff member."

If Acting Prime Minister Choi read it, it could correspond to insurrection crime 'acquiescence and compliance'

Then, did Acting Prime Minister Choi read the note? He denied, saying, "I did not see it. I do not know the contents." He said, "Because it was received in the form of a note, I did not see the contents and gave it to the Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance to keep." He added, "Around 1:50 a.m. the next day (December 4), when the Deputy Minister mentioned this document, I said, 'Let's ignore it since we decided to disregard it,' and did not look at the contents."

Choi, who appeared at the 3rd hearing of the National Assembly Special Committee, reiterated, "I did not read the note (given by President Yoon)."

The opposition party still suspects Acting Prime Minister Choi. At the hearing on the 6th, Kim Byung-joo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (Democratic Party), questioned, "It is not logically understandable that he did not see it." Park Seon-won, a Democratic Party member, pressed, "There are no fold marks on the document submitted by Acting Prime Minister Choi's side to the prosecution. Did you iron it out and rewrite it before submitting? Confess honestly."

Through this hearing, the substance of the 'Choi Sang-mok note,' which is key evidence to determine the substantial truth of the declaration of martial law and the legal responsibility of the related parties, has become clearer. However, testimonies from related parties regarding the author of the note, the delivery process, and whether the contents were known still conflict. A thorough investigation of this will likely be an important point in the investigation of insurrection charges.