Kim Moonsoo: "Yoon Seok-yeol's Martial Law Was Wrong... Insurrection Case Still Pending in Court"

The issue of former President Yoon Seok-yeol's alleged insurrection became a focal point during the debate hosted by the three major broadcasting companies, organized by the Central Election Commission. Kwon Young-guk, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Labor Party, called for the resignation of Kim Moon-soo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, by raising the issue of former President Yoon's responsibility for "insurrection." In response, Kim stated, "The insurrection case is still on trial, and there are many judgments yet to be made."

From the right, Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform New Party, Kwon Young-guk of the Democratic Labor Party, and Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party, presidential candidates, are taking a commemorative photo at the first presidential candidate debate of the 21st presidential election held on the 18th at the SBS Prism Center studio in Sangam-dong, Seoul, hosted by the Central Election Broadcasting Debate Commission. 2025.5.18 Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On this day, Kwon pressed, seemingly determined, "Do you admit that Yoon Seok-yeol was the ringleader of the insurrection on December 3? Do you acknowledge his responsibility for attempting an insurrection that destroyed the constitutional order and mobilized the military? Do you admit that this martial law stabbed the nation's economy, cutting off all flows of small business, self-employment, tourism, and investment?"

Kwon continued, "You, Candidate Kim, were Minister of Labor during former President Yoon's administration and are now running for president while defending him. Are you happy to have received his endorsement as a reward? At this point, aren't you acting as an agent for Yoon Seok-yeol, the ringleader of the insurrection?" He added, "Shouldn't you make a public apology and resign before the people?"

Kim responded, "It is true that the economy is struggling," but added, "The martial law imposed by former President Yoon was wrong, and if I had known, I certainly would have tried to stop it." He continued, "The insurrection case is currently being tried in several courts, and judgments are still pending." Kim also remarked, "Don't you know that the Constitutional Court excluded the insurrection charge? Initially, the National Assembly impeached him for insurrection, but later removed it from the articles of impeachment."