Lee Sang-min, who denied media orders for power and water cuts, says "I saw a note mentioning power and water cuts"

"The Call with the Fire Agency Chief Was to Ensure Public Safety"

Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min testified that "President Yoon Suk-yeol never instructed me to cut off electricity or water to media companies," but also stated that he "saw several notes mentioning power and water cuts in the presidential office."

On the morning of the 11th, attending as a witness at the 7th hearing of President Yoon's impeachment trial, former Minister Lee said, "During the martial law period, I never received instructions from President Yoon to cut off electricity or water, nor did I instruct the Fire Agency Chief to do so," adding, "The Minister of the Interior and Safety has no authority to command or instruct the Fire Agency Chief."

However, former Minister Lee explained that he personally saw notes mentioning power and water cuts in the presidential office. When the President Yoon’s side asked whether the witness had contacted the Fire Agency Chief, he said, "I saw several notes on the round table in the presidential office with content like 'Fire Agency power and water cut.' I thought that if the power and water were cut, it could cause casualties among the public, so I made a phone call." He added, "I briefly glanced at them during a short 1-2 minute stay when I went in to dissuade (President Yoon from declaring martial law)."

He continued, "While serving as Minister of the Interior and Safety, I never told any previous or current Fire Agency Chiefs what to do or not to do," and added, "After the martial law declaration, while returning to Gwanghwamun by car, the notes came to mind and troubled me, so I called the National Police Agency Chief and the Fire Agency Chief in turn to understand the overall situation."

When the National Assembly side asked, "Did you express concerns about the documents during the call with the Fire Agency Chief?" former Minister Lee drew a line, saying, "I judge that the conversation is unrelated to the impeachment trial." He also said, "If I testify about specific facts, it could be misunderstood as giving guidelines to the Fire Agency Chief and influencing future testimony, so it is difficult to answer further details." When asked if there was a mention of the Fire Agency Chief in the notes, he replied, "I remember the heading was like that."

Earlier, Fire Agency Chief Heo Seok-gon testified on the 13th of last month at the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee that he received a phone call from former Minister Lee instructing him to "cooperate if the National Police Agency requests power and water cuts" regarding some media companies. However, he stated that since power and water cuts are not part of fire duties, no actual measures were taken. When asked about Chief Heo’s remarks, former Minister Lee said, "I partially confirmed the testimony through the media, but it was vaguely expressed as if it were an instruction. I don’t think it’s a matter of whose words are right or wrong."

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