Shin Won-sik Testifies on December 3 Martial Law at Lee Sang-min Trial
"Yoon Hinted at Martial Law Twice... I Clearly Opposed"
"No One Supported It Except Kim Yong-hyun"
Shin Won-sik, former Chief of the National Security Office under the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, stated regarding the December 3 emergency martial law, "Former President Yoon Seok-yeol said that he only mentioned martial law temporarily while drinking, and I believed him," adding, "However, when martial law was actually declared, I was deeply disappointed in the President." On the 22nd, Shin appeared as a witness in the trial of former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, who is facing charges including involvement in major duties related to insurrection, at the 32nd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Kyungjin), and made these remarks.
Yoon Seok-yeol administration's former National Security Office chief Shin Won-sik stated regarding the December 3 emergency martial law that "Former President Yoon Seok-yeol mentioned martial law temporarily during drinking, and I believed that." The image shows Shin appearing as a witness at the Constitutional Court in February during the impeachment trial of former President Yoon. Constitutional Court
It has been reported that Shin, who was serving as Minister of National Defense last year, repeatedly expressed his opposition to martial law to former President Yoon and was eventually dismissed. Previously, the special prosecutor's team on insurrection led by Cho Eun-seok concluded that in August and September of last year, when Shin, then the Minister of National Defense, strongly voiced his opposition to martial law, former President Yoon abruptly dismissed him and appointed Kim Yong-hyun, then the Chief of the Presidential Security Service, to the position.
Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, who was the first in the current ruling party to raise the issue of martial law, also stated in an interview with KBS's "That Day, That Place" in October that his initial suspicions about martial law began with the appointment of former Minister Kim. Prime Minister Kim said, "There was no assessment that former Minister Kim was competent enough to oversee the entire national defense, and there was no special reason for former Chief Shin to be subject to personnel changes," adding, "From that point, I started to have various thoughts and conducted investigations."
In court that day, former Chief Shin testified that former President Yoon hinted at martial law on two occasions: during a meeting at the Safe House in Samcheong-dong in March last year and during an official trip to Hawaii in July. He said, "I clearly conveyed my opposition." Regarding the Cabinet meeting held before the declaration of martial law, he stated, "There was a sense of futility among the Cabinet members, and except for former Minister of National Defense Kim, it seemed that no one was in favor." He added, "Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, former Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yeol only exchanged brief conversations, asking each other what was happening."
Jeong Jin-seok, former Chief Presidential Secretary, who also appeared as a witness, testified that just before the declaration of martial law, he opposed it in the President's office, saying, "It will be difficult to persuade the public. Citizens will pour into the streets." Jeong said, "As soon as I sat down, I directly expressed my opposition to the President, and to former Minister Kim, I raised my voice, saying, 'What are you doing right now?' and 'Can you take responsibility for this in history?'" He added, "Despite this, the President said, 'I've made up my mind, so you should not intervene.'"
The court handling the case against former Minister Lee is expected to conclude witness examinations soon and hold a final hearing on January 12, during which the special prosecutor will present sentencing recommendations and both sides will deliver their closing arguments. Former Minister Lee is on trial for allegedly abetting former President Yoon Seok-yeol's illegal declaration of martial law, despite being the minister in charge under the Martial Law Act, and for sequentially conspiring in the insurrection by relaying orders to cut off electricity and water to media companies.
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