Lee Sang-min, who resigned as minister of the interior on Dec. 8, told police that members of the Cabinet voiced opposition to the president declaring martial law on Dec. 3.
It was reported on Sunday that Lee told investigators in a recent police probe that President Yoon Suk Yeol's ministers did not agree with the martial law declaration during the Cabinet meeting that took place just before Yoon's public announcement. Lee also told police that Yoon said to him and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo that "Nobody knows about the plans to declare martial law. Not even my wife knows. Neither my chief of staff nor the senior presidential secretaries. I think my wife will be very angry."
Lee said presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-seok voiced his opposition to martial law to Cabinet members right before the meeting. After speaking with the president, Chung purportedly said, "I can't dissuade him (Yoon)."
Yoon is currently under criminal investigation in relation to his declaration of martial law and giving what the prosecution says were illegal orders to his officials, including orders to arrest prominent politicians and outspoken opponents. Yoon, who is also undergoing an impeachment trial, denied giving such orders in a hearing held at the Constitutional Court last week.
The president and ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun have been denying that they gave illegal orders during the short-lived period of martial law. Kim, who is also under criminal investigation, testified at Yoon's impeachment trial on Jan. 23 as a witness for the defense.
When told about specific testimony regarding such orders from the military commanders under his command, Kim said, "Well, I don't understand it either."
The two men, both charged with insurrection and abuse of power, have been claiming that some Cabinet members in the meeting agreed on declaring martial law. But Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok -- currently the acting president -- said that there were severe problems with the procedure of the meeting and that he "does not believe it was a Cabinet meeting."
According to local media outlet MBN, Choi told police that the president skipped the ceremonial procedure of using a gavel to commence and adjourn the meeting, which is a convention for Cabinet meetings. There was also no formal declaration of the start of the meeting or a pledge of allegiance to the national flag, according to ex-Minister Lee.
Yoon's legal team alleged that media reports on Lee's testimony distorted the facts. It claimed that Lee's opposition to martial law was based on his belief that it could affect the country's economy and diplomatic relations, rather than on concerns over its legality or constitutionality.
minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com
