Democrats respond to Yoon Sang-hyun's 'Martial Law Governance' remark: "Was Jeon Du-hwan's massacre also governance?"

The Democratic Party strongly criticized Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party on the 11th for his remark that "there is a precedent that emergency martial law is an act of governance."

Cho Seung-rae, the senior spokesperson of the Democratic Party, pointed out at a press conference held at the National Assembly Communication Office on the same day, "Can an unconstitutional and illegal declaration of martial law be dismissed as an act of governance? Was Chun Doo-hwan's massacre also an act of governance?"

Spokesperson Cho emphasized, "Even the president must not violate the Constitution and laws," adding, "I don't know why he keeps spouting such sophistry. Rep. Yoon must take responsibility for his remarks."

Kang Yoo-jung, the floor spokesperson of the Democratic Party, also raised her voice through a written briefing, saying, "Coup loyalist Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun has no qualification as a member of the National Assembly, nor as a citizen. He should relinquish his status as a representative of the people and leave the Republic of Korea immediately."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking while looking at real-time economic indicators during the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 9th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

She continued, "The cabinet members directly appointed by the traitor Yoon Seok-yeol and the 'Yoon core faction' People Power Party lawmakers who collaborated with the traitor are shamelessly making statements that defend and condone the traitor, insulting the people," adding, "Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun is not qualified to represent the people. If he is confident, let him say it again outside the plenary session where there is no immunity privilege," criticizing him. She also said, "If he can still speak confidently then, he will be expelled from the National Assembly and prosecuted for aiding the rebellion."

Woo Won-shik, the Speaker of the National Assembly, also reprimanded, "Is it right to call it an act of governance when the military came to the National Assembly with guns under the president's orders?"

Earlier, Rep. Yoon, during the emergency urgent question session on "President Yoon Seok-yeol's unconstitutional declaration of emergency martial law and related acts of rebellion" held at the National Assembly plenary session in the afternoon, questioned Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae about whether President Yoon's declaration of emergency martial law constituted "disturbance of the constitutional order," stating, "Looking at the situation at the time, the military did not go to media companies or broadcasting stations but only to the National Assembly and the Central Election Commission," and asked, "Isn't the legal text properly applied and reviewed in the legal part?"

He also said, "For the crime of rebellion to be established, there must be intent and purpose, but Professor Lee In-ho of Chung-Ang University argues that 'even if the president commits unconstitutional acts in the exercise of official duties, he cannot be punished.'" He added, "The reason former President Kim Dae-jung's remittance to North Korea was not punished is that it was considered an act of governance and thus not punishable. According to the 1997 Supreme Court precedent, emergency martial law is regarded as a highly political act, an act of governance."

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