Former President Yoon Seok-yeol testifies at a trial held at the Seoul Central District Court on November 19. Provided by the Seoul Central District Court

President Yoon Seok-yeol has issued a message from prison on the first anniversary of the declaration of emergency martial law.

In a message from prison conveyed to the Korean people through his lawyers on the 3rd, President Yoon urged, "As the sovereign people, please stand up to protect your sovereignty."

Amid a widespread sentiment that President Yoon did not commit rebellion, he emphasized the justification for his actions in this message, stating, "In a situation where state affairs were paralyzed by legislative overreach and the constitutional order was in crisis... I sought to re-establish the constitutional order of liberal democracy."

President Yoon characterized the current Lee Jae-myung administration as a "unjust and corrupt dictatorship" and called for national unity and resistance, urging, "Please join me in showing a 'red card' to this regime that tramples on the people. Let us unite and move forward."

Full Text of President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'Message to the Nation on December 3rd'

The December 3rd emergency martial law was a resolute fulfillment of the constitutional duty to protect the freedom and sovereignty of the people, in response to a plot to subvert the system aiming to paralyze state affairs and collapse the constitutional order of freedom. It was a desperate message urging the sovereign people to awaken, directly check the representative powers that have led to a national crisis, and stand up by facing the crisis of sovereignty infringement.

The Democratic Party's parliamentary dictatorial power has impeached government officials an unprecedented 30 times and completely cut major budgets for security, defense, and the economy. With over 1,200 cases of fraudulent hiring and the potential for hacking of voting and vote counting, the fairness of the National Election Commission was severely threatened.

As the Democratic Party opposes the expansion of the espionage law, South Korea is becoming a haven for spies, and espionage activities by members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and others, acting on North Korean directives, are rampant. Despite such pro-China and pro-North traitorous acts, the parliamentary dictatorial power paid no heed to the people.

In a situation where state affairs were paralyzed by unprecedented "incendiary impeachments, shield impeachments, and traitorous impeachments" in constitutional history, budget cuts, and legislative overreach, and the constitutional order was in crisis, I, using the presidential authority to declare a state of emergency, sought to re-establish the constitutional order of liberal democracy.

I am grateful to the citizens who recognized this national crisis and agreed with the declaration of a state of emergency, especially the youth who bravely stood up. However, I was insufficient. I cannot help but feel deeply apologetic for failing to prevent the frenzy of rebellion accusations by forces aiming to disrupt the constitution and for causing emotional pain and inconvenience to the people. Furthermore, soldiers and public officials who have dedicated their lives to the nation are suffering hardship. There should be no oppression or suffering for those who followed the president's lawful orders. All responsibility lies with me, as the Commander-in-Chief.

Citizens, we are now witnessing the collapse of the rule of law and the rampant advance of dictatorship, which aims to dismantle the judiciary by abolishing the prosecution service, establishing a fourth-instance system, increasing the number of Supreme Court justices, and threatening the impeachment of the Chief Justice, and by installing a special court for rebellion. The destruction of the constitutional order is imminent.

Now is the time to unite against an unjust and corrupt dictatorship. Please join me in showing a 'red card' to this regime that tramples on the people. Let us unite and move forward.

Now is the time to stand up again for the freedom, rule of law, and sovereignty of the Republic of Korea. Please stand up on my shoulders. This nation belongs to you, the sovereign people.

December 3, 2025, Sincerely, Yoon Seok-yeol

By Sung Ku Hong, Chief Reporter, NNP USA / Special Correspondent for this paper NNP info@newsandpost.com