Special Prosecutor on Insurrection Summons Cho Kyungtae Over 'Interference with Lifting Martial Law'... First People Power Party Lawmaker Questioned

Rep. Cho Investigated as a Witness
"I Will Give a Detailed Account of My Experience That Early Morning"

People Power Party lawmaker Cho Kyungtae is speaking as he arrives on the 11th for a witness investigation at the Special Investigation Office for Internal Insurrection set up at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding suspicions of interference with the lifting of martial law, People Power Party lawmaker Cho Kyungtae appeared before the special investigation team for internal insurrection (led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok) on the 11th.

The special investigation team began questioning Cho as a witness from 8:00 a.m. that day. Upon arriving at the team's office at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office at around 7:50 a.m., Cho stated, "The insurrection is still not over, and there are still forces within the party that sympathize with it."

He continued, "As a member of a constitutional institution, I have a duty to protect the safety and lives of the people," and added, "In this regard, I will give a detailed account of what I experienced in the early morning hours of that day."

Cho was one of 18 People Power Party lawmakers who participated in the vote on the resolution demanding the lifting of martial law in the early morning of December 4 last year. The resolution passed with 190 lawmakers present and 190 in favor, while 90 out of 108 People Power Party lawmakers did not participate.

The special investigation team is looking into whether former President Yoon Sukyeol and then People Power Party floor leader Chu Kyungho were involved in the fact that most People Power Party lawmakers were unable to attend the vote on lifting martial law.

Immediately after the declaration of martial law, former floor leader Chu initially announced that the emergency lawmakers' meeting would be held at the National Assembly, then changed the location to the party headquarters in Yeouido, then again announced the National Assembly as the venue, and once more changed it to the Yeouido party headquarters.

It also came to light that former floor leader Chu and former President Yoon spoke by phone after the declaration of martial law. There are suspicions that former President Yoon asked Chu to block the parliamentary vote, and that Chu accepted this request and changed the meeting venue to prevent lawmakers from participating in the vote.

However, Chu's side maintains that he was not aware of the martial law in advance and that he did not discuss obstructing the vote with former President Yoon.

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