[Exclusive] Months earlier than martial legislation, Yoon alluded to siccing army on lawmakers

Former President Yoon Suk-yeol reportedly criticized former Folks Energy Celebration chief Han Dong-hoon as a “commie” and urged the army intervene in legislative deadlocks on the Nationwide Meeting throughout an abroad journey final July, 5 months earlier than declaring martial legislation.

On Thursday, the Hankyoreh discovered particulars relating to Yoon’s notion of the political gridlock towards the top of his administration, together with legislative opposition on the Nationwide Meeting. The data was included within the particular counsel workforce’s arrest warrant request for Folks Energy Celebration lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho, who’s alleged to have interfered with the Nationwide Meeting’s choice to carry martial legislation. 

Within the warrant file, the particular counsel workforce led by Cho Eun-seok acknowledged that Yoon known as former PPP chief Han a “commie” at a gathering attended by Kang Ho-pil, then-vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Employees, and Kim Yong-hyun, the pinnacle of presidential safety on the time, at a resort in Hawaii on July 10, 2024. 

Through the gathering, Yoon additionally reportedly criticized the Democratic Celebration and urged the army “become involved” — an enchantment to interrupt the gridlock on the Nationwide Meeting, wherein the 2 main events have been in a state of prolonged confrontation on the time. Kim reportedly expressed settlement.

Yoon’s go to to Hawaii was a stopover en path to the US for the NATO summit held in Washington, DC, that month. Again in Korea, Han was campaigning to grow to be the chief of the PPP within the run-up to a celebration conference on July 23, whereas the Democratic Celebration had simply voted to move a invoice on a particular counsel to research alleged orders to silence an inquiry into the dying of a Marine. 

Following his return to Korea, Kang reportedly relayed the dialog to then-Protection Minister Shin Gained-sik, saying, “That is getting harmful; please take motion to cease this.” The arrest warrant request additional states that Shin instantly known as Kim, exclaiming, “How might you continue to harbor such ideas?”

Yoon’s remarks seem to stem from his deepening battle with Han Dong-hoon. Han, a profession prosecutor who served as the primary Justice Minister in Yoon’s administration, was introduced in to function the Folks Energy Celebration’s interim chief in December 2023, earlier than turning into its official chief by means of a celebration conference in July 2024. 

Battle between the 2 ignited when Han noticed that the general public was involved about suspicions round Yoon’s spouse, Kim Keon-hee, receiving a luxurious purse as a present. The particular counsel workforce famous within the arrest warrant request that whereas the rift between Yoon and Han deepened as Han subsequently raised points with the administration’s governance model, then-floor chief Choo supported the president and strengthened their bond.

The particular counsel regarded Choo, a staunch defender and supporter of Yoon, as having rejected Han’s demand to have all PPP lawmakers go to the Nationwide Meeting to be a part of the vote lifting martial legislation. 

The workforce famous that after Choo spoke with Yoon round 11:22 pm on Dec. 3, 2024, following Yoon’s declaration, he acquired a name from Han wherein he acknowledged the get together’s lawmakers should block martial legislation by means of a Nationwide Meeting decision. Han argued that in the event that they delayed motion, the Nationwide Meeting can be sealed off, so they need to go to the meeting constructing instantly with the lawmakers who have been at the moment on the get together headquarters. Regardless of this request, Choo refused to conform, utilizing his authority because the PPP’s ground chief to convene and preside over a basic assembly of lawmakers.

The particular counsel workforce famous that Choo exacerbated confusion throughout the get together by demanding PPP lawmakers collect at a location completely different from the one specified within the message from Nationwide Meeting Speaker Woo Gained-shik. Woo despatched a textual content message to all Nationwide Meeting members at 12:01 am on Dec. 4, 2024, instructing them to assemble on the Nationwide Meeting plenary chamber. Nonetheless, Choo’s message to PPP members at 12:03 am instructed them to “assemble on the get together headquarters in Yeouido.” 

As a consequence of these conflicting messages, PPP lawmakers requested a number of occasions that Choo make clear the assembly location by way of group textual content on the messaging service Telegram. Nonetheless, the particular counsel workforce famous that Choo exacerbated the state of affairs by not responding to those requests in any respect.

Moreover, although Han replied to Choo’s 12:03 am discover to collect on the get together headquarters by requesting that lawmakers collect on the plenary chamber as an alternative, Choo refused to comply with his instruction. Choo declined by saying that the Democratic Celebration can be current on the Nationwide Meeting, and the PPP members ought to type out their get together line then relocate as soon as the vote had been determined.

The workforce of investigators famous that Choo “refused requests from Han Dong-hoon and get together members to collect on the Nationwide Meeting plenary chamber to take part within the vote to carry martial legislation or to precise opposition to the declaration of martial legislation. As a substitute, he remained within the ground chief’s workplace with no intention of collaborating within the vote, whereas repeatedly sending textual content messages saying the convening of an emergency assembly that conflicted with the repeated messages from Han and Nationwide Meeting Speaker Woo Gained-shik urging lawmakers to collect in the principle plenary chamber.” 

The probe requested an arrest warrant for Choo on the grounds of partaking in important actions in support of an rebellion.

The date for Choo’s pre-arrest suspect interrogation, in any other case generally known as the warrant evaluate listening to, might be scheduled after the Nationwide Meeting votes on Nov. 27 on a movement to consent to the arrest of the consultant. 

Korea’s Structure states that sitting lawmakers is probably not arrested or detained with out the consent of the Nationwide Meeting. 

By Kang Jae-gu, employees reporter

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