▲ Acting President and Prime Minister Han Deok-soo [Yonhap News]
The Prime Minister’s Office has denied the claim made by former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun’s side that the emergency martial law plan was reported in advance to Acting President and Prime Minister Han Deok-soo.
Kim’s side clarified, stating, “It occurred during a Cabinet meeting.”
On the 26th, the Prime Minister’s Office issued a press release stating, “As Acting President Han has already testified several times in the National Assembly, he did not receive any report related to the plan for declaring emergency martial law until he heard it directly from President Yoon Seok-yeol at the Yongsan presidential office around 9 PM on December 3rd.”
They emphasized, “Acting President Han plans to take all measures, including legal action, against this false information.”
On the same day, former Minister Kim’s legal team held a press conference at the Korea Conference Center, explaining, “According to the Martial Law Act, which requires the Ministers of National Defense and Interior and Safety to propose martial law via the Prime Minister, Kim’s statement is that he followed the procedure of reporting to Prime Minister Han in advance and then suggesting it to the President.”
However, as the controversy spread, they clarified the misunderstanding about the phrase “reported to the Prime Minister in advance,” explaining, “It means that immediately before President Yoon attended the Cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister was informed about martial law, which indicated that the proposal was made and reviewed after passing through the Prime Minister, and then the President came in.”
They added, “This matter occurred during the Cabinet meeting concerning martial law, and there was no prior discussion about (martial law) with Acting President Han before the Cabinet meeting.”