South Korean military officer claims he viewed Yoon’s martial law as ‘legitimate’

 Testifying at President Yoon Suk Yeol’s impeachment trial, Army Lieutenant General Lee Jin-woo refused to confirm whether Yoon had ordered lawmakers to be "dragged" out of parliament.

Impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on Tuesday.

Feb. 4, 2025, 4:24 PM GMT+6 

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SEOUL, South Korea — A senior South Korean military commander testified Tuesday that he trusted President Yoon Suk Yeol’s decision to declare martial law but refrained from confirming whether the impeached leader had ordered lawmakers to be forcibly removed from parliament.

Army Lieutenant General Lee Jin-woo spoke at a Constitutional Court trial reviewing Yoon’s impeachment, which stems from accusations that he orchestrated an insurrection with his brief martial law decree on December 3.

Yoon has downplayed the severity of his declaration, which shocked the nation, destabilized one of the world’s leading industrial powerhouses, and triggered a constitutional crisis that also led to the impeachment of the prime minister.

“I still believe it was a legitimate decision, and when I was ordered to go to parliament, I understood it as a direct command,” Lee testified.

“There was no time to question its legality or constitutionality. The commander-in-chief, who represents the people and whom I knew as a former top prosecutor and legal expert, addressed the nation and the world,” he added.

The Constitutional Court is currently reviewing Yoon’s impeachment, which was passed by parliament on December 14. The court will determine whether to remove him from office permanently or reinstate him. If removed, a new presidential election must be held within three months. Meanwhile, prosecutors have indicted Yoon on charges of leading an insurrection. He was arrested last month and remains in detention.

Lee, who commanded the Army Capital Defense Command at the time, is among several high-ranking military and police officials facing accusations of insurrection and abuse of power.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Yoon dismissed the significance of whether he had ordered lawmakers’ removal, arguing, “Nothing actually happened.”

Lee avoided answering several key questions, including whether Yoon had instructed him to use firearms if necessary or forcibly break into parliament. He cited his status as a defendant in a related criminal case.

According to an indictment reviewed by Reuters, Yoon allegedly directed the safety minister to cut off power and water to multiple media outlets critical of his administration.

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