[2025 Audit] Heated Debate Over 'Insurrection' at Defense Ministry Audit: Ahn Says "If December 3 Wasn't an Insurrection, What Was It?"

National Assembly National Defense Committee's Audit of the Ministry of National Defense

The ruling and opposition parties clashed on October 13 at the National Assembly National Defense Committee's audit of the Ministry of National Defense over whether the December 3 Martial Law constituted an "insurrection." Minister of National Defense Ahn Kyu-baek stated, "The fact that the December 3 Martial Law was an insurrection was witnessed in real time by 52 million people," adding, "If we do not call this an insurrection, then what can we call an insurrection?"

Minister Ahn made these remarks in response to a question from Seong Il-jong, a member of the People Power Party, during the audit held at the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Seong had asked whether using the term "insurrection" in the name of the "Special Civil-Military Advisory Committee for Overcoming Insurrection and Designing Future National Defense" violated the obligation of political neutrality.

On the morning of the 13th, when the first national audit of the Lee Jae-myung administration began, Kim Byung-joo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is protesting to Seong Il-jong, chairman of the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly, at the 2025 Ministry of National Defense audit held at the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. 2025.10.13 Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Minister Ahn further stated, "Because armed soldiers entered the National Assembly in military boots, it is naturally considered an insurrection. They trampled the National Assembly with guns and swords and violated the Constitution and the rule of law, so it must inevitably be defined as an insurrection."

Members of the People Power Party on the National Defense Committee had previously expressed the opinion that it was inappropriate to use the term "insurrection" in the committee's name ahead of the launch of the special advisory committee. On the day of the audit, Seong reiterated, "We should use such terminology only after a final legal judgment has been made regarding the insurrection."

As the debate continued, shouting erupted among lawmakers from both parties. Kim Byung-joo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized Seong, asking, "Why are you defending the ringleader of the insurrection?" and demanded that Seong resign from his position as chairman of the National Defense Committee. Amid the heated exchange, both sides hurled insults at each other, and the audit session was pushed to the brink of disruption.

Meanwhile, Minister Ahn responded to a question about whether individuals involved in the December 3 incident were recently included among those eligible for military promotion, stating, "Even if someone is scheduled for promotion, if it is revealed that they were involved in or suspected of insurrection, the promotion will be canceled." He added, "All promotions within the Defense Security Command are currently suspended. Because the command is so deeply involved in the insurrection, we will begin personnel decisions as soon as the matter is resolved."

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