Proclamation, Notes, and Election Fraud... Yoon's Impeachment Trial Hinges on Three Issues

Martial Law Proclamation No. 1 Restricting the National Assembly Issued... Kim Yong-hyun and President Yoon Offer Conflicting Accounts
Key Issue: Who Wrote and Delivered the "Note" on Blocking the National Assembly's Budget
Seizing Control of the National Election Commission Based on "Belief in Election Fraud"... Later Retreats to "Checking Suspicions"

President Yoon Suk-yeol directly attended the Constitutional Court impeachment trial on the 21st and gave testimony, as the key issues of the impeachment trial are becoming increasingly specific. Regarding the emergency martial law declared by President Yoon on December 3 last year, the issues can be condensed into about three main points when considering the contents revealed by the prosecution investigation so far, the National Assembly's impeachment motion, and President Yoon's stance. Of course, these points are where the claims of both sides sharply diverge.

The constitutional justices will decide which side's statements are more credible and reach a conclusion, which will determine President Yoon's "fate" and future political schedule. The witness examinations starting on the 23rd with former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun could be a key factor in swaying the justices' opinions.

Martial Law Proclamation and "Pull the Members Out"

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During the emergency martial law, Martial Law Commander (General Park An-su, Chief of Staff of the Army) issued Martial Law Proclamation No. 1. The proclamation included prohibitions on political activities of the National Assembly and political parties. Since it restricts the National Assembly's constitutional authority to demand the lifting of martial law, it is highly likely unconstitutional in itself. President Yoon's side explains that former Minister Kim copied the martial law proclamation incorrectly from the military regimes of the past. This is a strategy to dilute President Yoon's involvement, but attention is focused on whether the president, who holds the authority to declare martial law and is ultimately responsible, can be free from this.

Additionally, during the martial law period, the Special Forces Commander and Capital Defense Command Commander, who sent troops to the National Assembly under the orders of President Yoon and Minister Kim Yong-hyun, testified to the National Assembly and investigative agencies that President Yoon called several times on a secure phone and gave instructions to "pull the members of the National Assembly out." On the 21st, Acting Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae also questioned this during the impeachment trial, asking, "Did you give such an order?" President Yoon replied, "No." Both sides are making completely opposite statements.

The Note Received by Choi Sang-mok

Whether the president was the one who wrote and ordered the delivery of the 'note' received by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Sang-mok on the day the emergency martial law was declared is also a key issue. The one-page A4 note contained instructions to "block the National Assembly's budget and allocate the budget related to the national emergency legislative body." The National Assembly side argues that this was an unconstitutional act aimed at dissolving the National Assembly and creating a replacement body.

President Yoon claimed that he neither wrote nor delivered the note. He stated that he only confirmed the existence of the note through news articles after the lifting of martial law, and that the contents of the note were inaccurate and contradictory. Regarding the author of the note, he said it was probably only the Minister of National Defense, but since he is in custody, confirmation was not possible. Acting Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok testified to the National Assembly and others that he received the note from an aide who was beside the president during the martial law State Council meeting. More facts need to be revealed on this matter.

Control of the National Election Commission and Allegations of Election Fraud

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Regarding the fact that troops were deployed to the National Election Commission (NEC), a constitutional institution, President Yoon said, "It was not to take control of the NEC but to check problems with the NEC's computer system." In letters revealed at the time of his arrest, he seemed convinced of election fraud but later backed down to the level of "checking suspicions." This also appears to be a strategy to avoid accusations of unconstitutionality and illegality, such as 'disturbing the national order.' The National Assembly side focused on emphasizing that on the day martial law was declared, 16 closed-circuit television (CCTV) videos showed troops entering and operating in the National Assembly and the NEC, highlighting the illegal attempt to seize control of the constitutional institution of the NEC.

The witness examinations for President Yoon's impeachment case will begin on the 23rd with Minister Kim Yong-hyun, followed by former Capital Defense Command Commander Lee Jin-woo, former Counterintelligence Command Commander Yeo In-hyung, and former National Intelligence Service First Deputy Director Hong Jang-won on February 4. On the 6th, Special Forces 707th Special Mission Group Commander Kim Hyun-tae, former Special Forces Commander Kwak Jong-geun, and Presidential Office Economic Chief Park Chun-seop will appear. On the 11th, former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min's witness examination is scheduled.

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