Head-on clash over ‘martial law’ at an unexpected time
Lee Jae-myung and Democratic Party Leadership’s Martial Law Offensive… Presidential Office: “It’s Resembling Nazi Propaganda Politics”
Han Dong-hoon also said, “If you can’t provide evidence, it’s a violation of the national flag.”
Opposition attacks ‘Chung-Am faction’ at Kim Yong-Hyun’s hearing… Kim: “Out of 400 generals, only 4 are Chung-Am”
“Wasn’t it later revealed that during the Park Geun-hye administration, there were actual martial law considerations and preparations? It is very likely that such considerations and plans are being made and planned somewhere in this administration.” (Chun Jun-ho, Strategy and Planning Committee Chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea)
“Why would the people be worried about martial law?” (Democratic Party Supreme Council Member Kim Min-seok)
The Democratic Party leadership went on the offensive on the 2nd, raising suspicions of ‘martial law’ in earnest. This was in response to Representative Lee Jae-myung’s remarks during the party leaders’ meeting the day before, saying, “Recently, martial law talk keeps coming up.” Martial law is a measure taken by the president to maintain public order and judicial power by mobilizing the military when it is necessary to maintain order in times of war, incident, or similar national emergency, according to Article 77 of the Constitution.
Regarding this, the Blue House said, “It is becoming similar to the propaganda politics of Nazi Stalinism. It is an opposition party’s attempt to paralyze state affairs with martial law, a state affairs monopoly,” and warned Lee, “If this is not irresponsible propaganda, then put your party leadership on the line.” People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon also criticized, saying, “Provide evidence,” and “If it is not true, then it is a disruption of the national flag.” It seems that the ruling and opposition parties are clashing head-on over the controversy over “martial law” on the first day of the September regular session, just one day after the party leader meeting.
● “We need to prepare for electronic voting in preparation for martial law” at the field workshop
According to multiple Democratic Party officials, Rep. Lee recently received reports directly from the National Intelligence Service and former military lawmakers on martial law. It is said that martial law was also discussed at a party workshop held before the regular National Assembly session on the 29th of last month.
A Democratic Party official said, “During the discussion on division of duties, Representative Lee heard from lawmakers about suspicions regarding martial law,” and “During the discussion, there were also opinions that we should prepare electronic voting, etc., in preparation for the lifting of martial law.” The gist of the proposal was that “just like the martial law document created during the Park Geun-hye administration, we should prepare for electronic voting outside the National Assembly in case the government mobilizes military force to arrest and detain lawmakers.” If the lifting of martial law is requested with the consent of a majority of lawmakers present in the National Assembly, the president must lift martial law. Representative Lee also claimed the previous day, “There is talk that they planned to arrest and detain lawmakers at the same time as martial law was declared in order to prevent the National Assembly from requesting the lifting of martial law.”
The Democratic Party also went on the offensive with suspicions of preparations for martial law at the confirmation hearing of Minister of National Defense nominee Kim Yong-hyun held at the National Assembly Defense Committee that day. Democratic Party lawmakers claimed, “Candidate Kim, who is an alumnus of Chungam High School in Seoul, and his high school junior Yeo In-hyeong, the commander of the Armed Forces Counterintelligence Command, could join forces to declare martial law at any time.” Rep. Choo Mi-ae said, “There are rumors that (President Yoon) is establishing a personal system to prepare for martial law and that the purpose of (appointing) the nominee is that, but I do not believe it is without basis,” and “The Office of the President, the Ministry of National Defense, the Counterintelligence Command, and the Water Defense Command (which are involved in declaring martial law) could be organized as a single line centered around nominee Kim.” Rep. Park Sun-won, a former first vice director of the National Intelligence Service, said, “The ‘Chungam faction’ has expanded into the ‘Yong-hyun faction’ and is on a winning streak. At this point, they are the second ‘Hanahoe. ’”
Candidate Kim responded to questions about martial law by saying, “It’s false political propaganda,” and “If we were to declare martial law in the current situation in the Republic of Korea, which citizen would tolerate it? Would our military follow it? I don’t think it would.” Regarding the claim that the “Chung-Am faction” is growing in power, he said, “There are nearly 400 generals in the military, and calling four of them the “Chung-Am faction” could in itself encourage division in the military.”
● “False conspiracy theory ahead of Lee’s verdict”
The Blue House strongly opposed the Democratic Party leadership’s all-out offensive on martial law. Spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon said in a briefing that afternoon, “They are once again spreading and repeating the same rumors, ignoring the Blue House’s statement that they are creating rumors,” and “The Democratic Party members may have martial law in their heads, but we do not have martial law in our heads.” She continued, “Is this the impeachment build-up process? If there is no basis, it is appropriate to call them a rumor-spreading party and a fake news reporting party,” and emphasized, “The Yoon Seok-yeol government will respond resolutely to the opposition party’s martial law manipulation and state administration manipulation that are attempting to paralyze state affairs with martial law.”
The leadership of the People Power Party also objected. At the Supreme Council meeting, Representative Han criticized, “If it is a lie to the extent of ‘preparing martial law,’ it is a violation of the national flag,” and “If the president is preparing martial law without our knowledge, please provide evidence.” Floor leader Choo Kyung-ho also said, “This is fake news created and spread by the Democratic Party.”
There were also suspicions that the Democratic Party intentionally brought up a conspiracy theory ahead of the ruling on Representative Lee’s violation of the Public Official Election Act. Supreme Council member Kim Jae-won said, “(Representative Lee) is seeing things as the date of the ruling approaches.” Supreme Council member Kim Min-jeon also mentioned the envelope scandal involving former and current Democratic Party members, claiming, “As the rulings of opposition party members began to come out, they are building up a false frame that they are arresting opposition party members ahead of martial law.”
● Government: “No reason to declare martial law”
A Ministry of National Defense official dismissed the idea, saying, “The situation now, 44 years later, is 180 degrees different from when martial law was declared during the May 18 Democratization Movement in 1980,” and “There is no reason to declare martial law at present, nor is it a situation in which one can be declared.”
The Democratic Party’s logic is that “just as the Defense Security Command, the predecessor of the current Counterintelligence Command, drafted a ‘martial law review document’ in February and March 2017 during the Park Geun-hye administration in response to the candlelight vigils that were spreading during the impeachment situation, President Yoon can instruct the Chungam High School line to declare martial law.” They also cite President Yoon’s recent mention of “anti-state forces” as a reason. However, a Ministry of National Defense official said, “The document at the time was not a plan with execution in mind,” and “Retired General Cho Hyun-cheon, who served as the commander of the Defense Security Command at the time and was suspected of ordering and reporting on the drafting of the document, was also acquitted of the charge of preparing and conspiring to commit sedition.” Three executives of the Defense Security Command, including the former chief of staff, who were indicted on charges of drafting false official documents, were fined or given suspended sentences in the appeals trial.
Reporter Seungwoo Lee [email protected]
Reporter Hwang Hyeong-jun [email protected]
Reporter Son Hyo-joo [email protected]
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2024-09-04 05:00:38