Capital Defense Command Aide: "Yoon Sukyeol Ordered 'Drag Them Out Even If You Have to Use Guns'... I Thought 'This Is Wrong'"

Third Trial for Former President Yoon's Rebellion Charges
Testimony on Phone Calls Between Yoon and Lee Jinwoo
Oh Sangbae: "I Decided to Testify Out of a Sense of Betrayal"

Captain Oh Sangbae, aide to the Commander of the Capital Defense Command, appeared as a witness at the third trial for former President Yoon Sukyeol's charges of leading a rebellion. He stated, "I decided to testify because I felt a sense of betrayal after seeing (Yoon Sukyeol's) defense team deny the facts." Oh testified that during the 12·3 Martial Law, he overheard a phone call in which former Commander Lee Jinwoo was instructed to "break down the door with gunfire if necessary and drag out the lawmakers."

Former President Yoon Sukyeol appeared at the 3rd trial for charges of leading a rebellion and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights, held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on the morning of the 12th. He is moving while responding to questions from the press. 2025.05.12 Photo by Joint Press Corps

On the morning of the 12th, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun) held the third trial for former President Yoon's rebellion charges at 10:15 a.m. During this session, the prosecution conducted witness questioning of Captain Oh. At the time of martial law, Captain Oh was in the same vehicle as former Commander Lee Jinwoo and had previously testified that former President Yoon gave the order to "remove the lawmakers" over the phone.

On this day as well, Captain Oh reiterated his testimony, stating that he directly heard former President Yoon instruct, "Go to the (National Assembly) main chamber and have four people each carry out one lawmaker." According to the prosecution's indictment and the Constitutional Court's impeachment ruling, during martial law, former President Yoon called Commander Lee and said, "You still haven't gone in? Go to the main chamber and have four people each carry out one lawmaker."

When asked why his testimony changed from the first to the second investigation, Oh explained, "Until then, I believed former President Yoon was acting within the law, but when attorney Seok Donghyun said things that contradicted what I knew to be true, I felt I had to help reveal the truth." He added that he felt "a kind of betrayal" when attorney Seok stated, "Former President Yoon never used the word 'arrest,' not even the first syllable of the word."

On this day, Captain Oh stated that he overheard four phone calls between former President Yoon and former Commander Lee on the day martial law was declared. He said, "I clearly recognized it because the security phone displayed 'President,' so I handed over the phone saying, 'It's the President.'"

Regarding the third call, Captain Oh testified, "I remember former President Yoon saying, 'Break down the door and go in, even if you have to use guns.' I thought, 'This is really wrong.'"

On this day, former President Yoon appeared above ground for the first time, not through the underground parking lot. After the morning trial, as he left the courthouse for lunch, he did not respond to reporters' questions such as, "The witness also said he heard you order lawmakers to be dragged out?did you give such a direct instruction?", "Today's witness is also a Special Forces Capital Defense Command soldier?do you think there is political intent in the order of witnesses?", and "Do you plan to apologize for declaring martial law?" With a stern expression and tightly closed lips, he left the court in a black vehicle.

Meanwhile, on the 1st, former President Yoon was additionally indicted by prosecutors for abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights, including allegations that he ordered the military and police to perform duties they were not legally obligated to carry out in connection with martial law. The court decided to merge this charge with the 'leading a rebellion' trial. However, considering that less than a week has passed since former President Yoon's team received the indictment for abuse of authority, the court will begin reviewing this charge from the next trial date.