Prosecutors' Special Investigation Team Questions 'Martial Law Commander' Park An-su, Army Chief of Staff

The prosecution investigating the December 3 emergency martial law situation summoned and questioned General Park An-su, who was appointed as the martial law commander at the time.

Park An-su, Chief of Staff of the Army who served as the Martial Law Commander (left), and Kim Seon-ho, Deputy Minister of National Defense, are attending an emergency briefing of the National Defense Committee held at the National Assembly on the 5th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

According to the legal community on the 9th, the Special Investigation Headquarters for Emergency Martial Law (headed by Park Se-hyun, Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office) questioned General Park for about eight hours from around 6 p.m. the previous day until around 2 a.m. at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

The prosecution is reported to have investigated General Park regarding from whom he received orders or instructions before and after the declaration of martial law, and specifically what role he played. It is said that General Park was questioned as a witness.

General Park was appointed as the martial law commander at the time of President Yoon Seok-yeol's declaration of martial law on the 3rd. Martial Law Command Proclamation No. 1 was issued in General Park's name. The proclamation contained unconstitutional content such as "prohibiting all political activities including the activities of the National Assembly and local councils, political parties, political associations, assemblies, and demonstrations."

However, General Park testified before the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly on the 5th that he learned of the martial law declaration through President Yoon's public statement and that he did not personally draft the proclamation.

The prosecution arrested former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, who recommended the declaration of martial law to President Yoon, after questioning him the previous day. The prosecution is expected to request an arrest warrant for former Minister Kim by tonight.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.