Yoon Meets with Ruling Party Lawmakers: "Martial Law Exercised Within Constitutional Limits"

Yoon: "Martial Law Declared Based on Judgment That Nation Was in Crisis"

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated in December last year regarding the declaration of martial law that "it was made based on the judgment that the country was facing multiple crises" and that "everything was carried out within constitutional procedures," according to reports on the 10th.

Kim Ki-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, conveyed this after meeting with President Yoon at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province on the same day. In addition to Kim, five people attended the meeting, including former floor leader Choo Kyung-ho and lawmakers Lee Cheol-gyu, Jeong Jeom-sik, and Park Seong-min. The meeting lasted about 30 minutes.

Yonhap News

President Yoon has asserted the legitimacy of the declaration of martial law. This is interpreted as an attempt to politically legitimize the martial law amid numerous statements during the Constitutional Court impeachment trial and national investigations claiming that the martial law was declared without meeting constitutional and legal requirements.

According to Representative Kim, President Yoon said, "I am doing well, so do not worry," and urged, "Party leadership should cooperate with the central government, lawmakers, party district committees, and local governments to take good care of those in difficulty, self-reliant youth, and small business owners."

He also reportedly said, "I am relieved to hear that the people, especially the youth, strongly feel that they are the owners of the country," and added, "If the consciousness and movement to protect freedom and restore sovereignty are sincerely supported, wouldn't they receive the love of the people?" This was a show of support for ruling party lawmakers who attended anti-impeachment rallies for President Yoon held in Busan, Daegu, and other locations.

When asked whether the anti-impeachment rally held at Dongdaegu Station on the 8th was discussed, Representative Kim stated, "I conveyed that many citizens sympathize with the circumstances that left the President no choice but to declare various martial laws."