"Whether the Emergency Martial Law Was the Right Decision
Is for History to Judge"
Former President Yoon Seokyoul, who was re-arrested on charges of obstructing special official duties and abuse of power, strongly criticized the special prosecutor's investigation on the 21st, stating, "I alone am enough for this absurd political persecution." He also asserted the legitimacy of the December 3 emergency martial law declaration, saying, "Ultimately, history will judge whether my decision was right." The Constitutional Court had unanimously upheld the impeachment of former President Yoon.
On this day, through his social networking service (SNS), former President Yoon wrote, "Many soldiers and public officials who simply followed the legitimate orders of their superiors are being dragged before the special prosecutor and the courts, suffering great hardship."
Former President Yoon Seokyoul, who is under special investigation related to the December 3 emergency martial law, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after the pre-arrest detention hearing on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency Joint Coverage Team
He stated, "I will do my utmost in the upcoming criminal trials to reveal the truth about the emergency martial law," and added, "I will prove just how absurd the claims are that a sitting president with the highest authority staged a rebellion to usurp power, and I will clearly explain the meaning of deploying only the minimal forces, which were not even fully armed." He further emphasized, "Above all, I will prove without a doubt that the rebellion charges imposed on soldiers and public officials are completely unfounded."
Former President Yoon said, "Political persecution against me has now extended to the suffering of innocent people," and continued, "I urge an immediate end to this unjust persecution that tarnishes the honor and damages the lives of those who have devoted their entire lives to the nation and its people."
Since his re-arrest by the special prosecutor's team for rebellion on the 10th, he has continuously refused to cooperate with both the special prosecutor's investigation and the trial. In the most recent hearing, Yoon's legal team cited his usual medication for diabetes and high blood pressure, his weakened state, and dizziness that makes it extremely difficult for him to even climb the stairs to the meeting room in the detention center as reasons for his absence. He continued to make statements justifying the illegal emergency martial law. Former President Yoon wrote, "The reason I declared emergency martial law was because I judged that the liberal democracy and constitutional order of the Republic of Korea were facing an existential crisis," and added, "I did my utmost to explain to the public during the impeachment trial why I had no choice but to make that decision."
He said, "From the moment I left the prosecution, where I spent my entire career, to enter politics and run for president, I knew I was embarking on a path of hardship," and added, "Nevertheless, I could not stand by and watch the reality of Korea, so I did not turn away from that path." Former President Yoon concluded, "I do not care what happens to me personally," and added, "As I watch the things I feared become reality one by one, I am truly worried about the future of the country and its people."
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