Han Deok-su: Yoon Likely Did Not Consider Cabinet Meeting Until Just Before Martial Law, Yongsan Refutes

Prime Minister Han's remarks on the State Council
Blue House rebuts, saying "Why would he wait for the quorum?"

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo responding, Photo by Yonhap News

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's statement suggesting that President Yoon Suk-yeol did not consider deliberation by the State Council until just before the declaration of martial law was rebutted by the Blue House.

According to legal and political circles on the 31st, Prime Minister Han reportedly said during a police suspect investigation last month, "It seems the President did not consider the State Council from the beginning."

Prime Minister Han stated, "In fact, aside from the fact that people gathered, it was more like a meeting," and added, "I cannot determine whether that gathering had legal effect as a State Council meeting."

Regarding the procedure in which the Minister of National Defense or the Minister of the Interior and Safety would propose the declaration of martial law to the President through the Prime Minister, he reportedly mentioned, "There was none at all."

A Blue House official responded, "If the President did not consider the State Council, then why did he wait until the quorum was met?" and expressed the position that "The claim that the President did not consider the State Council from the beginning is unbelievable." It was explained that State Council members gathered from 8:30 and held a meeting at 10:30, which was a process to meet the quorum.

Furthermore, the official said, "The State Council is a deliberative body, not a decision-making body," and added, "While there may be procedural flaws, the essence of the State Council meeting where the President convened the State Council members to explain the purpose of martial law is undeniable."

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