Aide Kim Yonghyun: "Yoon said, 'We should have sent 1,000 soldiers to the National Assembly'"

Testimony presented in court revealed that former President Yoon Seokyoul remarked to key military aides that "1,000 soldiers should have been sent to the National Assembly" after the National Assembly passed a resolution on December 4 of last year demanding the lifting of martial law.

Former President Yoon Seokyoul Arrives at Court. Photo by Yonhap News

On June 16, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ji Guyoun) held the seventh trial for former President Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power, and conducted a witness examination of Kim Cheoljin, former military advisor to the Ministry of National Defense. Kim served as a close aide to former Minister Kim.

On this day, Kim testified that at approximately 1:20 a.m., after the National Assembly passed the resolution demanding the lifting of the 12·3 martial law, former President Yoon visited the Decision Support Room inside the Ministry of National Defense's Combat Control Center, stayed for about 30 minutes, and held a meeting with key aides including former Minister Kim and Army Chief of Staff Park Ansu.

During the prosecution's questioning, Kim stated that he heard former President Yoon ask former Minister Kim, "How many personnel were deployed to the National Assembly?" and when Kim replied "about 500," Yoon responded, "See, I told you it wasn't enough. We should have sent 1,000. What are we going to do now?" Kim confirmed that he had indeed heard this exchange.

Kim further explained that former President Yoon repeatedly asked about the number of troops sent to the National Assembly, but former Minister Kim could not provide a clear answer and eventually replied "about 500." Kim also stated that former Minister Kim did not answer when Yoon asked, "What are we going to do now?"

On the same day, Kim testified that he also overheard former Minister Kim speaking on the phone with Noh Sangwon, former Director of the Defense Security Command. Kim recalled, "I remember former Minister Kim receiving calls and saying, 'Yes, Sangwon,' about two or three times." He added, "I heard that Noh visited the minister's residence on the morning of December 3 last year, and I thought, 'It must be Noh Sangwon,'" noting that he had stated this during the prosecution's investigation.