Kim Gyeri, Attorney for Yoon's Impeachment Trial, Draws Attention for "Enlightened" Remark
Joins Anti-Impeachment Rally
Controversy Over Inclusion in Yeosun Incident Truth Report Planning Team
Attorney Kim Gyeri, a member of the legal team representing President Yoon Suk-yeol in the impeachment trial, announced on the 28th that she would participate in an anti-impeachment rally. Attorney Kim had previously attracted attention for her remark during the 11th hearing of the impeachment trial on the 25th, stating that she was “enlightened by the (December 3 emergency martial law).”
On the 25th, Attorney Kim Gye-ri, a representative of President Yoon Seok-yeol, presented the respondent's argument at the 11th impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul. February 25, 2025. Photo by the Constitutional Court
On the previous day, Attorney Kim opened up on her social media (SNS), saying, “I’m not the type to be on such a stage. After 육퇴 (childcare clock-out), I lie on the sofa, scrolling through Facebook or searching the news, happily enjoying a brief moment alone as an ajumma.”
She added, “The presidential legal team was created so that the president’s, the people’s, and all citizens’ legal teams can be formed, allowing you to express your confidence in your president. Everyone, including those inexperienced, is preparing for the rally with one heart. Show your confidence in your president. I’m going too.” Along with this, she shared a poster for the ‘March 1st Eve Rally Youth Manmin Assembly.’
The rally, hosted by the presidential legal team, will be held in front of the Donghwa Duty-Free Shop in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Besides Attorney Kim, other participants include Attorney Yoo Jeong-hwa and Attorney Lee Dong-chan from President Yoon’s legal team, as well as Pastor Son Hyun-bo of ‘Save Korea.’
Previously, Attorney Kim had promoted the so-called ‘emergency martial law enlightenment theory,’ a phrase mainly used by strong supporters of President Yoon, during the impeachment trial. This theory implies that the declaration of emergency martial law made them aware of the opposition party’s violent acts. At the time, she said, “Due to pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare, I was unaware of the Democratic Party’s atrocities and the fascist acts of one-party dictatorship. I shared the time I had reserved to be with my child and jumped into this case. I was enlightened.”
However, it has recently come to light that Attorney Kim was included in the planning team for drafting the truth report on the Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident (Yeosun Incident). The Yeosun Incident is the history of South Korea’s first emergency martial law, which occurred in 1948. It is considered inappropriate that a lawyer who defends President Yoon’s emergency martial law is part of the planning team drafting the truth report.
On the 27th, representatives of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident victims’ association and lawmakers from the eastern Jeonnam region, including Joo Cheol-hyun, Kim Moon-soo, Kwon Hyang-yeop, Moon Geum-ju, and Jo Gye-won, held a press conference at the National Assembly, urging the dismissal of Attorney Kim and the reorganization of the planning team drafting the truth report. They stated, “Having a person who defended President Yoon participate in drafting a report to investigate the truth of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident is a serious conflict of interest and an act that undermines fairness. Attorney Kim and other members must be immediately dismissed, and the planning team should be reorganized with experts who have political neutrality and objectivity.”
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