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Ex-Defence Minister Skips Hearing : South Korea: Ex-Defence Minister Skips Hearing on Yoon's Martial Law Proposal

South Korea: Ex-Defence Minister Skips Hearing on Yoon's Martial Law Proposal
Seoul, Feb 5 (NationPress) A South Korean parliamentary committee investigating President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law proposal could not conduct an on-site hearing at a detention center with former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who refused to attend the session.

Synopsis

On February 5, a South Korean parliamentary committee's efforts to hold an on-site hearing with former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun regarding President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law proposal were thwarted as Kim refused to attend, citing trial preparations. The ruling party also boycotted the session in protest.

Key Takeaways

  • Former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun declined to attend the hearing.
  • The special committee was investigating President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law proposal.
  • The ruling People Power Party protested by boycotting the session.
  • Yoon Suk Yeol faces allegations of inciting insurrection.
  • The National Assembly voted for Yoon's impeachment.

Seoul, Feb 5 (NationPress) A special parliamentary committee in South Korea investigating President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law proposal was unable to conduct an on-site hearing at a detention facility with former Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who declined the committee's request for attendance.

Kim, who is currently arrested and facing charges linked to insurrection concerning Yoon's brief martial law declaration on December 3, did not show up for the parliamentary session at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Centre located in eastern Seoul, as reported by Rep. Han Byung-do, a member of the main opposition Democratic Party.

“To alleviate concerns regarding the on-site investigation, we even agreed to conduct the hearing in private and restrict attendance to five individuals,” Han informed the media.

It is reported that Kim declined to attend the hearing, citing the need to prepare for his upcoming trial and confer with his legal representatives.

The ruling People Power Party boycotted the on-site investigation as a protest against Yoon being called as a witness, according to Yonhap news agency.

Later that day, committee members visited the Seoul Detention Centre in Uiwang, located south of the capital, to conduct a similar hearing concerning Yoon. The results of their visits remain unknown at this moment.

They are also scheduled to visit a detention facility of the Capital Defense Command to meet with Yeo In-hyung, the former head of the Defence Counterintelligence Command.

Yeo is alleged to have received orders from Kim to seize and detain opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and former ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon, among others, during the enforcement of martial law.

Earlier, on January 4, Yoon Suk Yeol claimed that nothing substantial occurred regarding his martial law decree, refuting allegations that he had instructed military officials to forcibly remove lawmakers from parliament to prevent them from obstructing the imposition.

Yoon made this assertion while attending the fifth formal session of his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in Seoul.

The National Assembly had voted to impeach Yoon due to his alarming yet fleeting imposition of martial law on December 3. Yoon is facing indictment for inciting insurrection and remains in custody.

Additionally, Yoon is accused of deploying military forces to the National Assembly in an effort to thwart lawmakers from rejecting the martial law declaration and planning to detain key political figures.

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