Ousted South Korean defence minister testifies Yoon never intended full martial law

(Reuters)

SEOUL, Jan 23 – A former South Korean defence minister charged with insurrection for his role in a short-lived martial law attempt told a court on Thursday that he wanted a broader military deployment but was overruled by President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned after the Dec. 3 martial law and is now jailed, testified before the nation’s Constitutional Court, which is deciding whether to reinstate or fully remove Yoon from power after he was impeached on Dec. 14.

Central to Yoon’s defence is that he never intended to impose military rule, using the decree only to break political deadlock.

“Yes,” said Kim when asked by Yoon’s lawyers whether the president had shot down the defence minister’s recommendation to mobilise all military units stationed in Seoul.

Kim confirmed he had also proposed sending some units to the opposition party headquarters and a left-wing polling firm.

The Constitutional Court began its trial on Dec. 27 to review charges that Yoon violated his constitutional duty by imposing martial law without justification.

At an earlier hearing, the parliament’s legal team presented testimony from military commanders and video footage showing military helicopters landing on parliament grounds with special forces troops breaking into the main building, as well as troops moving in on the National Election Commission.