The Democratic Party of Korea said it would file a criminal suit against the chief legal adviser to impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, who is accused of insurrection by the opposition over his imposition of martial law.
The Democratic Party told reporters Friday the party would be taking legal action against lawyer and longtime Yoon ally Seok Dong-hyun, who is organizing the president’s legal team, over his remarks that “defend and advocate insurrection.”
During a press conference held outside the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office Thursday, Seok flatly denied earlier accounts by police and military leaders that the president sought to arrest politicians.
“From what I have heard, President Yoon never once uttered anything close to arresting anybody or dragging people out of the parliament. Basically, he never even thought about anything of that capacity,” Seok said.
Seok also downplayed troops' entering of the National Assembly on the night Yoon declared martial law.
“There were less than 300 soldiers in the National Assembly, which has an extensive ground area,” he said, claiming that the president did not intend to obstruct or use force against the parliament.
Yoon himself claimed in a Dec. 12 address that he did not block access to the Assembly.
But key witnesses of the Dec. 3 martial law imposition say otherwise.
National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho’s lawyer said Dec. 13 that Yoon called the police chief six times asking him to arrest lawmakers.
Former Special Forces Commander Kwak Jong-geun, who appeared before the National Assembly on Dec. 10, said that Yoon called him after declaring martial law and asked him to “break open the door and drag lawmakers out.”
Hong Jang-won, the former National Intelligence Service deputy director, said Dec. 6 that Yoon called him, telling him to “get them all,” referring to lawmakers.
arin@heraldcorp.com
