South Korean military officer says he believed Yoon's martial law 'legitimate'
A top South Korean military commander said he trusted President Yoon Suk Yeol to be making a legitimate decision when he declared martial law, but declined to say if the impeached leader gave orders to “drag” lawmakers out of parliament.
SEOUL, South Korea — A top South Korean military commander said Tuesday that he trusted President Yoon Suk Yeol to be making a legitimate decision when he declared martial law, but declined to say if the impeached leader gave orders to “drag” lawmakers out of parliament.
Army Lieutenant General Lee Jin-woo testified at a Constitutional Court trial reviewing parliament’s impeachment of Yoon, who is accused of masterminding insurrection with his short-lived martial law decree of Dec. 3.
Yoon again played down his martial law declaration, which shocked the country and plunged the industrial powerhouse and a powerful example of democratic resilience into a constitutional crisis that also saw the prime minister being impeached.
“I still believe it was legitimate and when told to go to parliament, I considered it to be an order,” Lee told the court.
“There was no chance to even think about whether it was illegal or unconstitutional, when the commander in chief, who represents the people, and whom I knew to be a legal expert as a former top prosecutor, spoke to the country and to the world.”
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