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South Korea: Ex-commander says he repeatedly opposed Yoon over martial law

IANS February 4, 2025 210 views

A high-stakes legal drama is unfolding in South Korea as military commanders face allegations about a controversial martial law declaration. Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung and Maj. Gen. Moon Sang-ho are fighting charges related to their roles during the brief martial law period. Both leaders claim they opposed or followed orders under duress, creating a complex legal and political narrative. The case highlights tensions within South Korea's military and political leadership.

"I spoke directly against martial law to the president and the (defence) minister several times" - Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung
Seoul, Feb 4: A former head of the South Korean Defence Counterintelligence Command, indicted in connection with President Yoon Suk Yeol's short-lived martial law declaration, said on Tuesday that he repeatedly expressed his opposition to the scheme to Yoon, denying his involvement in the plot.

Key Points

1

Military leaders deny active participation in martial law scheme

2

Commanders claim they opposed the president's orders

3

Legal proceedings reveal complex chain of military command

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Allegations of potential constitutional overreach

Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung made the remarks during a preparatory hearing at a court-martial in central Seoul regarding his indictment in late December for his alleged role in plotting the December 3 martial law declaration by Yoon, reports Yonhap news agency.

Yeo is accused of deploying troops to the National Assembly to detain lawmakers and to the National Election Commission's offices to seize its servers during the brief martial law period.

"I spoke directly against martial law to the president and the (defence) minister several times," Yeo said. "Despite my opposition, I carried out the commander-in-chief's public and explicit order for emergency martial law as a soldier."

Yeo argued that there was not enough time to assess the legality of martial law, but still acknowledged his faults as the commander in charge of the troops, asking the court for leniency for his staff and unit personnel.

Military prosecutors, however, rejected Yeo's claims, arguing that he had ample time to assess its legality as he was aware of the martial law plan in advance through Yoon and former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun.

Separately, a lawyer for Maj. Gen. Moon Sang-ho, former commander of the Defence Intelligence Command who was also accused in the martial law plot, claimed his innocence in the martial law operations at the same court on Tuesday.

Moon is accused of deploying troops to the National Election Commission's office in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, to allegedly seize its servers and detain election officials during the martial law period.

The legal representative argued during a preparatory hearing that Moon acted on "legitimate" orders at the time, rejecting the allegations against him.

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