Yoo Yongwon: "Apologies to the People and Military for December 3... Most Soldiers Are Not at Fault"

"Government Must Take Careful and Restrained Actions Toward the Military"

On December 3, Yoo Yongwon, a member of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee from the People Power Party, stated, "There is absolutely no responsibility for the soldiers who were dispatched to the National Assembly immediately after the declaration of the 12·3 Martial Law, or for the majority of soldiers who proceeded with follow-up measures according to the military's operational manual after the martial law was declared." He urged the government, "Please take careful and restrained actions so that the military does not become unnecessarily shaken and divided, and so that no innocent victims emerge."

At a press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on this day, Assemblyman Yoo said, "The blame for that day lies with the then Commander-in-Chief and certain top military leaders who issued illegal orders, exploiting the sense of duty and conviction of soldiers for political purposes. Even if the legislative overreach and successive impeachments by the Democratic Party last year contributed to the imposition of martial law, reducing the military to a political tool can never be justified," he stated.

Yonhap News Agency

Assemblyman Yoo first remarked, "One year ago today, the misguided decisions of the highest military commander and certain top military leaders caused great turmoil in our society, and above all, left the military with an indelible wound and pain. I take this opportunity to sincerely apologize to the people and to all soldiers, expressing my reflection and remorse."

He continued, "I had concerns about whether it was appropriate for me to stand here, given that I hold neither any party office nor any position within the Assembly, and whether this apology might provoke further political controversy. However, it was clear that in the face of wrongdoing, sharing responsibility sincerely must come before calculating political gains or losses." He added, "As a member of the ruling party's National Defense Committee at the time, I was not aware in advance of the circumstances that led to martial law, and even after the incident occurred, I did not respond firmly enough. I am by no means free from blame for this wrongdoing," reiterating his apology.

Assemblyman Yoo went on to say regarding the new government's efforts to remove certain military personnel, "The military is an organization based on a strict chain of command, so it is certainly necessary to reward and punish individuals appropriately. However, the current situation has gone beyond that scope and is spreading excessive suspicion and stigmatization toward the entire military. If this confusion continues, the command structure will be shaken, the military will become divided, and trust among soldiers will collapse. Ultimately, this damage will directly impact national security."

He further stated, "On the first anniversary of the martial law incident, I sincerely hope this will serve as a turning point for the swift normalization of the military. Even now, at this very moment, I bow my head once again in repentance to all the soldiers and citizens who are silently carrying out their duties in their respective positions." He added, "And I will also do my utmost in my position to ensure that politics never again tarnishes the honor of the military uniform."

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