<기사제목>Police Chief: "Proclamation of Martial Law Order = Effect of Martial Law"... Deems It Practically Legal

Seoul Police Command Ordered On-Site Leadership
1,740 Riot Police Deployed Around the National Assembly

It has been confirmed that Police Commissioner Jo Ji-ho judged that there was no actual illegality in the declaration of martial law through the proclamation of the Martial Law Command during the ‘December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident.’

Cho Ji-ho, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, who is accused of insurrection related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident, is appearing on the 13th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, for a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review). Photo by Cho Yong-jun

According to the indictment of the Police Commissioner and the Seoul Police Commissioner submitted by the Ministry of Justice to the office of Park Beom-gye, the Democratic Party floor leader of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, on the 16th, Commissioner Jo instructed the Police Security Bureau Chief, saying, “The proclamation has been announced to the media, and the announcement itself has the effect of declaring martial law,” and “Since the proclamation explicitly prohibits all political activities, instruct the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency to completely control access to the National Assembly.”

Commissioner Jo called Kim Bong-sik, the Seoul Police Commissioner, to order control of the National Assembly, and Commissioner Kim relayed the same order to the Security and Safety Division Chief of the Seoul Police Agency. The Security and Safety Division Chief told the commanders of each riot squad stationed at the National Assembly entrances via the security command radio network, “From now on, all entrances are strictly controlled. No one is allowed to enter. This includes all members of the National Assembly; everyone is controlled.”

Commissioner Jo asked the Police Security Bureau Chief, “Is it sufficient for the police station chief to command the National Assembly situation?” and instructed, “Have the Seoul Police Agency’s Public Safety Deputy Commissioner or command staff go out and lead the scene.” The Police Security Bureau Chief sent a text message to the Public Safety Deputy Commissioner of the Seoul Police Agency stating, “The Commissioner has ordered you to personally go to Yeouido and command.” The Public Safety Deputy Commissioner of the Seoul Police Agency arrived near the National Assembly around 12:37 a.m. on December 4 last year and commanded the police riot squads at the National Assembly site until 3:50 a.m.

At 12:59 a.m. on December 4 last year, Commissioner Jo received a request for police reinforcements at the National Assembly from Park An-su, then Martial Law Commander and Army Chief of Staff. It was investigated that 1,740 personnel from 28 riot squads were deployed around the National Assembly.

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