Song Miryung Says "Yoon Called Martial Law 'Nothing Special' After Declaration... I Shouldn't Have Attended Cabinet Meeting," Choking Up

Testifies at Han Ducksoo's Trial
"I Felt Like I Was Being Used"... Chokes Up in Tears

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, testified that former President Yoon Sukyeol made remarks to the effect of, "When you actually try it, it's nothing special. It's nothing at all," after declaring the 12·3 Martial Law last year.

Song Miryung, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is attending and speaking at the Growth Strategy Task Force and Industry Competitiveness Enhancement Ministers' Meeting held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 10th. 2025.9.10 Photo by Jo Yongjun

On the 10th, Minister Song appeared as a witness at the continued trial of former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, who is charged with aiding the leader of an insurrection, held at the 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jingwan), and made these statements.

Minister Song recalled that on the day martial law was declared, former President Yoon entered the room and said things like, "Bring me something to drink," and after sitting down, remarked, "When you actually try it, it's nothing special. It's nothing at all." She added, "I also remember that he asked former Prime Minister Han to attend some events or schedules in his place."

When the special prosecutor's team asked again, "Did he say it would be for the time being? If it was meant to be temporary or as a warning, doesn't the phrase 'for the time being' contradict that?" Minister Song replied, "He never used the word 'one-time.'"

The court also asked, "Did former President Yoon ever say, before or after the martial law declaration, that it was a warning-type martial law or that it would be temporary?" Minister Song answered, "I don't remember." Former President Yoon has previously claimed that it was a "warning martial law."

Minister Song also testified about the circumstances before and after the martial law declaration. She said that at around 9:37 p.m., she spoke with former Prime Minister Han on the phone, asking if he was on his way and what time he would arrive. When he replied that he would arrive at around 10:10 p.m., former Prime Minister Han reportedly asked three or four times, "Can't you get here a bit earlier?"

When the court asked, "Has former Prime Minister Han ever called to urge you to attend a meeting more quickly at other times?" Minister Song replied, "It was the first time he told me to come to a meeting quickly."

She also testified that at the time, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sangmok conveyed his opposition to martial law to former Prime Minister Han, and that Han replied, "I also oppose it."

Minister Song said, "Former Deputy Prime Minister Choi, in a slightly more agitated tone than usual, asked former National Security Office Director Shin Wonsik and others, 'Did you know about this?' and everyone said they did not. He then asked, 'So does this mean you discussed all of this only with former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun?' After that, he told former Prime Minister Han, 'Are you going to end your 50-year public service career like this?' At that time, former Prime Minister Han reportedly replied in a low voice, 'I also oppose it.'

Regarding this, when the special prosecutor's team asked, "Did former Prime Minister Han use the word 'oppose' in front of former President Yoon?" Minister Song replied, "He did not."

When the special prosecutor's team asked, "In the special investigation, did former Minister Lee or former Prime Minister Han say, 'We are not expressing consent to martial law, just proving that we attended the meeting'? Is that correct?" Minister Song replied, "Yes. It's unclear who said it."

At that time, former Deputy Prime Minister Choi also reportedly said, "I will do the work, but I cannot sign." Minister Song said, "I also told former Prime Minister Han that it would be difficult for me to sign, and he told me, 'Do as you see fit.'"

Minister Song said, "I felt like I was being used. I was called in just to fill the numbers, sat there, and then left, so that's how I felt. If I had known what was really going on, I obviously wouldn't have gone. If we hadn't gone, maybe that situation wouldn't have happened," she said, choking back tears.

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