Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol allows the army to open fire during martial law

South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol approved the military to open fire if necessary while enforcing martial law late on December 3.

Inside the South Korean National Assembly building, where lawmakers meet and vote

As lawmakers tried to enter the National Assembly building in the South Korean capital to vote to lift martial law late on December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol called Lee Jin-woo, commander of the Seoul Defense Command, to say the armed forces had the right to open fire if necessary to force their way into the building.

The information was provided by the South Korean prosecutor in today's indictment (December 28) regarding the trial of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun in connection with the declaration of martial law.

"Why haven't you entered (the National Assembly) yet? What are you doing? Just break the door and drag them (the lawmakers) out, even shoot if necessary," the indictment quoted President Yoon as saying to Mr. Lee.

General Kwak Jong-keun, head of the Military Counterintelligence Command, also received orders from President Yoon to quickly enter the building, using an axe to break down the door if necessary and drag those inside out.

The indictment provided to the media by South Korean prosecutors also mentioned that Mr. Yoon said on December 3 that he could declare martial law up to three times if necessary, AFP reported.

After lawmakers entered the National Assembly and voted to nullify President Yoon's declaration in the early hours of December 4, the leader told Mr. Lee that he could declare martial law a second or third time.

The indictment also includes screenshots of text messages between senior defense officials on December 3. In addition, there is evidence that Mr. Yoon discussed the possibility of declaring martial law as early as March.

Yoon Suk Yeol's representative lawyer Yoon Kab-keun rejected the above contents of the indictment, saying that it was only a one-sided statement and not consistent with the objective circumstances.

A day before (December 27), the South Korean National Assembly also passed a motion to impeach Acting President Han Duck-soo, with all 192 lawmakers participating in the vote voting in favor.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-yoon-suk-yeol-cho-phep-quan-doi-no-sung-trong-luc-thiet-quan-luat-185241228182526606.htm