Channel A Interview: "He said he couldn't notify me in advance"
"Questioning why he called me, as I was in no position to play any role"
"Special prosecutor's raids aim to dissolve the party as unconstitutional"
Na Kyungwon, a member of the People Power Party, expressed her "doubts" regarding the phone call made by former President Yoon Sukyeol during the 12·3 Martial Law. In an interview on Channel A Radio's "Political Signal" on the 4th, Na said that after the declaration of martial law, former President Yoon called her but "didn't say much. I remember he criticized the Democratic Party, saying, 'I couldn't notify you in advance like this.'" She added, "At the time, I was not in a position to play any role, and we were not in the habit of calling each other. So I wonder why the President called me."
Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, and Na Kyungwon, member of the National Assembly, are holding placards reading "Stop the Opposition Suppression Political Retaliation Raids" in front of the floor leader's office at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyunmin
On December 3rd last year, at 11:22 p.m., former President Yoon called Choo Kyungho, then floor leader of the People Power Party, and spoke with him for one minute. At 11:26 p.m., he spoke with Na for about 40 seconds. In connection with this, the special investigation team on insurrection (led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok) launched a sweeping raid on Choo's office and the People Power Party floor leader's office, keeping all possibilities open, including whether Choo was aware of the martial law in advance. However, when asked if she had received a summons from the special prosecutor regarding her call with former President Yoon, Na replied, "I have not yet been notified."
Na argued, "The special prosecutor's raids are an attempt to institutionalize and reinforce the insurrection frame imposed on our party," adding, "Jeong Cheongrae, leader of the Democratic Party, said, 'If Choo is indicted, proceedings for the dissolution of the People Power Party as an unconstitutional party could begin.' The special prosecutor's investigation was conducted for that purpose."
She stated, "The very charge of obstructing the vote to lift martial law does not hold. Since the Democratic Party alone could pass the motion to lift martial law (with a majority of all members), the charge of obstruction is fundamentally impossible," adding, "To label this as being an accomplice to insurrection or as a key participant in insurrection makes no sense."
She also pointed out, "Since martial law, the floor leader has changed four times. But now, they are raiding the floor leader's office and taking all records such as business cards, memos, and letters from March of last year. This is surveillance and destruction of the opposition party."
The special investigation team on insurrection, after discussions with the People Power Party on the 4th, attempted to execute a search and seizure warrant for the floor leader's office in accordance with criminal procedure. The People Power Party had strongly resisted, but on this day, they provided the materials voluntarily.
Choo held a press conference that day, stating, "The suspicion that I and the People Power Party were aware of and colluded in the declaration of martial law in advance is completely untrue," and added, "The special prosecutor should present evidence, not rely on fiction, speculation, or conjecture. That is why this special prosecutor is causing some to suspect it is a politically motivated investigation ordered by the Democratic Party."
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