Yoon: "300 Martial Law Troops Cannot Seize National Assembly"... 98 Troops Occupied National Assembly During Jeon Du-hwan Era [News Analysis]

(48) Comparing Martial Law and Troop Deployment to the National Assembly in 1980
Controversy Over Treason Charge: 'Purpose to Neutralize the National Assembly'
Yoon "No Intention to Neutralize the National Assembly... Deployed Small Number of Troops"

Editor's Note'Seolcham' is a newly coined term meaning to refer to detailed explanations. In [News Seolcham], we aim to pinpoint parts of the news that require fact-checking or further explanation and provide more detailed information.

"It is impossible to occupy such a vast National Assembly space for a considerable period with fewer than 300 troops without a field commander."

President Yoon Suk-yeol claimed in his national address on the 12th that only a small number of troops without field commanders were deployed to maintain order in the National Assembly, asserting there was no intention to paralyze the National Assembly's functions. However, contrary to President Yoon's statement that "tens of thousands of troops are needed to impose martial law as in the past," it has been confirmed that when the martial law troops occupied the National Assembly building on May 18, 1980, the number of troops occupying the National Assembly was only 98.

President Yoon Suk-yeol (left), former President Jeon Du-hwan. Photo by Yonhap News

280 Troops Short of Occupying the National Assembly? 98 in 1980... But No Live Ammunition Issued

During the martial law on December 3, it is known that about 280 troops were deployed to the National Assembly. According to Kim Min-ki, Secretary General of the National Assembly, on the 4th, during the emergency martial law, 230 martial law troops entered the National Assembly by helicopter, with an additional 50 troops entering. It is understood that the 707 Special Mission Group under the Special Warfare Command, the 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade, the Special Operations Aviation Unit, and the Military Police Special Unit of the Army Capital Defense Command were deployed, armed with K1 submachine guns and other weapons.

This number exceeds the troops deployed to the National Assembly during the emergency martial law 44 years ago. According to the Supreme Court ruling on April 17, 1997, against Jeon Du-hwan and 16 others, at around 1:45 a.m. on May 18, 1980, a total of 98 troops, including 3 officers and 95 soldiers from the 3rd Company, 1st Battalion, 101st Regiment, 33rd Division of the martial law army, occupied the National Assembly building. As a result, the National Assembly was unable to function and was effectively dissolved.

Armed martial law troops are attempting to enter the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 4th, as President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law. Photo by Yonhap News

The difference lies in whether there was a field commander. The troops occupying the National Assembly in 1980 carried M16 rifles and were supported by eight light armored vehicles and four tanks. They restricted the entry of lawmakers attempting to enter the National Assembly, used force, and arrested politicians from both ruling and opposition parties.

Regarding the December 3 martial law, President Yoon said that "troops without field commanders" were deployed to the National Assembly. Although soldiers were issued K1 submachine guns, it is known that only the military commanders on site carried live ammunition, and individual soldiers were not issued live rounds. General Kwak Jong-geun, Commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, stated that he verbally ordered, "Absolutely do not issue live ammunition and do not use blanks or tasers" (on June 6, during a YouTube broadcast by Kim Byung-joo, a member of the Democratic Party). Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the 707 Special Mission Group, also said, "During the scuffle at the main gate, only two firearms (a pistol and a rifle) personally carried by individuals were moved," and "live ammunition was stored collectively" (at a press conference on the 9th).

Yoon: "No Attempt to Paralyze the National Assembly"... Former Special Forces Commander: "There Was an Order to 'Pull Out the Lawmakers'"

Prosecutors and police are expected to focus their investigation on whether President Yoon intended to deploy martial law troops to paralyze the National Assembly's functions. The crime of rebellion (Article 87 of the Criminal Act) applies when there is a riot with the purpose of disrupting the national territory or the constitutional order, and disruption of the constitutional order (Article 91 of the Criminal Act) refers to abolishing the functions of the constitution or laws. If a riot was instigated to prevent the constitutional institution, the National Assembly, from functioning, it could constitute rebellion.

In 1997, the Supreme Court ruled against Jeon Du-hwan and 16 others, stating, "If the National Assembly building was blocked by troops and lawmakers were prohibited from entering, preventing the National Assembly from convening for a considerable period, it effectively made it impossible for the constitutional institution, the National Assembly, to exercise its authority," and ruled it as disruption of the constitutional order.

Yonhap News

President Yoon argues that "since National Assembly personnel were not prevented from entering, many lawmakers entered, and the deliberation on lifting martial law proceeded normally." The resolution to lift martial law was passed by securing the quorum of 150 members within two hours and 30 minutes after the martial law was declared, and since the Presidential Office accepted this resolution and declared the lifting of martial law, the National Assembly's functions were not paralyzed.

However, there are concerns that the proclamation issued immediately after martial law, which explicitly prohibited political activities such as those of the National Assembly and political parties, could serve as evidence of an intent to paralyze the National Assembly. Additionally, former Commander Kwak claimed during an emergency inquiry by the National Defense Committee on the 10th that "President Yoon ordered to 'break down the main chamber door and pull out the lawmakers.'" Commander Kim of the 707 Special Mission Group also said he received orders such as "The number must not exceed 150, the quorum for passing the impeachment motion. Can we enter?"