Kwon Seong-dong, acting leader and floor leader of the People Power Party, spoke at a floor countermeasure meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 19th. The People Power Party has raised suspicions that lawyers with pro-opposition tendencies are allegedly approaching military and police officials under investigation in connection with the “December 3 Martial Law” incident, trying to induce false statements.
On the 19th, Rep. Yoo Sang-beom of the People Power Party stated in the floor countermeasure meeting at the National Assembly that current investigative institutions are putting strong pressure on each witness to appear, urging them to come quickly by offering public defenders if they do not have a lawyer. He expressed concern, saying, “It is even more worrisome that there are already signs indicating political maneuvering by the Democratic Party.”
Regarding Kwak Jong-geun, commander of the Army Special Warfare Command, who claimed to have received direct instructions from President Yoon Suk-yeol to arrest members of the National Assembly, Rep. Yoo revealed allegations that Kwak gave contaminated statements during the early stages of investigation after hiring lawyers with pro-Democratic Party inclinations, introduced by a certain Democratic Party lawmaker.
Kwak had testified in the National Assembly on the 10th, alleging he directly heard President Yoon’s order to forcibly remove members if the quorum was not yet reached for approving martial law termination, but claimed he did not follow through after discussing with the on-site commander.
Rep. Yoo further claimed there are suspicions that these lawyers pressured Commander Kwak into making excessive statements during initial questioning and then collectively resigned just before a warrant review.
Regarding Jo Ji-ho, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, Rep. Yoo highlighted that his lawyer, who reportedly falsely claimed a warrant for arrest was issued for a judge who ruled not guilty in Lee Jae-myung’s perjury case, was considered close to the ruling party during the Moon Jae-in administration.
Commissioner Jo testified during the police special investigation team probe that Army Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung requested location tracking for 15 people, including politicians, shortly after the martial law declaration.
Jo reportedly questioned an unfamiliar name on the arrest list, to which Commander Yeo answered it was a judge who had ruled not guilty on charges against Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung.
Rep. Yoo emphasized that having lawyers with a specific political bias approach military and police officials notified or scheduled for investigation, potentially leading them to make false statements, constitutes classic judicial obstruction, hindering the uncovering of substantial truth and disrupting the realization of the rule of law in South Korea.
Meanwhile, Commander Kwak was arrested on the 16th for conspiracy with President Yoon, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, and Commander Yeo to incite a rebellion aimed at constitutional disorder.
Commissioner Jo was detained on the 13th on charges of controlling the National Assembly under President Yoon’s orders on the day of the martial law, but was transferred to a negative pressure room at Songpa District Police Hospital on the 14th due to health deterioration related to blood cancer.