Yoon Sukyeol Issues Message from Detention: "Stop Oppressing the Military and Hold Me Fully Responsible"

"Praying Every Day for Soldiers Involved in Martial Law and Their Families"
Second Statement from Detention Following First Lady Kim Keonhee's Initial Summons Notification

Former President Yoon Seokyoul has released a message from prison, stating, "I hope all responsibility will be placed on me, and that the oppression of soldiers and the military will stop." He is essentially calling for the prosecution to drop charges against soldiers who are currently under investigation and trial in connection with the December 3 Martial Law.

Former President Yoon Seokyoul is heading to Seoul Detention Center after completing the second pretrial detention hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 9, 2025. Photo by Joint Press Corps

On September 3, Yoon's legal team announced that the former president had conveyed this message during a meeting with attorney Song Jin-ho the previous day.

During the meeting, Yoon stated, "Hold me, as the commander-in-chief, responsible for everything. I hope investigations and trials against soldiers will cease, and that indictments against those soldiers will be withdrawn." He added, "I pray every day for the soldiers who participated in the martial law and for their families." He further emphasized, "I sincerely hope the oppression of soldiers and the military will come to an end."

This is the second message Yoon has issued since being re-detained on July 10. The first "statement from prison" was released on July 21, when the special prosecutor's team led by Min Jungki summoned First Lady Kim Keonhee. In that statement, Yoon said, "I alone am enough for this absurd political oppression," and added, "Whether the declaration of martial law was the right decision is ultimately for history to judge."

Meanwhile, since being re-detained by the special prosecutor's team investigating insurrection, Yoon has refused to comply with both summons and trial, maintaining a strategy of resistance.

Yoon is currently on trial after being indicted by the special prosecutor's team on charges of insurrection (Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok). The team alleges that, on December 3 last year, Yoon convened only a portion of the cabinet to merely give the appearance of a cabinet meeting before declaring martial law, thereby infringing on the constitutional rights of nine cabinet members who could not attend, specifically their right to deliberate and decide on martial law. As a result, Yoon was detained and indicted on July 19.

He also faces charges of creating a false martial law proclamation after the martial law was lifted, and of destroying this document, which is both a presidential record and an official government document. Additionally, he is accused of ordering the deletion of secure phone communication records in preparation for the investigation, and instructing the Presidential Security Service to prevent the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials from executing an arrest warrant.

The trial for Yoon's charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power, previously indicted by the special investigation headquarters for martial law, is currently underway in Criminal Division 25.