During a press conference, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s representatives told foreign journalists that overcoming the current turmoil would validate the president’s declaration of martial law.
They added that Yoon appears to be in good health but is concerned about not achieving the intended objectives of the martial law declaration.
On Thursday, attorney Yoon Gap Geun, the President’s legal defense team member, held a media briefing to address questions about the president’s health and recent actions.
When asked about the purpose of declaring martial law, Yoon said that the emergency was fostering a sentiment of “let our people rise up.”
He explained that the declaration aimed to strengthen the nation by highlighting the seriousness of legislative overreach, impeachment chaos, and other crises perceived by the public. He added that the current upheaval had emerged during this process, but overcoming it would validate the success of the president’s martial law.
He also noted that the President hopes to confidently address all issues, viewing this as a potential historic turning point for South Korea’s development.
Civil War Concerns Raised
President Yoon’s lawyer and longtime friend, Seok Dong Hyun, cautioned about executing the president’s arrest warrant. He warned that if the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, allegedly connected to the opposition, forcibly arrests the president, it could provoke widespread backlash from citizens. Seok described such a scenario as potentially leading to a “civil war situation.”
He further argued that using armored vehicles and helicopters to stage a high-profile arrest of a sitting president would not constitute routine legal procedures. Seok emphasized that mishandling the situation could escalate into a civil war.
When asked whether “civil war” reflected his personal view or President Yoon’s, Seok clarified that it represented the shared sentiment between the president and the legal team. He added that no specific individual could be credited with the exact wording.
Regarding President Yoon’s potential attendance at the Constitutional Court’s first impeachment trial hearing on January 14, the legal team reiterated that he would attend only after preliminary issues are resolved, noting that no final decision had been made.
When questioned about whether the president would accept an impeachment ruling and resign, the response was that if the Constitutional Court ruled for impeachment, it would not be something that could be contested.
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