President Yoon Suk-yeol strongly questioned the response of the investigative agencies following the declaration of martial law during the sentencing hearing for charges including obstruction of special official duties held on the 26th. [Photo=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol strongly questioned the response of the investigative agencies following the declaration of martial law during the sentencing hearing for charges including obstruction of special official duties, held at the Criminal Division 35 of the Seoul Central District Court (presiding judge Baek Dae-hyun) on the 26th.

President Yoon stated, "Even though martial law had already been lifted, didn't you see them pushing into the presidential residence while framing it as a rebellion? How little did you think of the president?" This is interpreted as raising issues regarding the legitimacy of the post-martial law investigation process rather than martial law itself.

"The cause of the national emergency was the National Assembly... I had no choice but to appeal to the public"

Regarding the background of declaring martial law, President Yoon said, "The cause of the national emergency was the National Assembly and the large opposition party. There was no other option but to awaken the public, who were indifferent to politics and state affairs, and to plead with them to please pay attention and offer criticism."

This statement reiterates his previous position that martial law was not a measure to maintain power but a warning to the public to face the political reality in a situation of state paralysis.

Refuting Special Prosecutor's Logic... "A 'Napoleonic President' Premise Doesn't Hold"

President Yoon also directly refuted the special prosecutor's indictment, which described the events as a 'coup d'état to overcome the political situation.' He stated, "There is no such thing as a 'Napoleonic President.' When you see the situation of them pushing into the presidential residence even after martial law was lifted, the special prosecutor's logic that the president's power is immense does not add up."

This is interpreted as emphasizing the practical limitations of presidential authority and questioning the special prosecutor's logic for constructing the criminal charges.

The special prosecution team for rebellion, led by Special Prosecutor Jo Eun-seok, sought a 10-year prison sentence for President Yoon that day. They considered charges such as obstruction of arrest warrant execution after martial law, infringement of cabinet members' deliberative rights, false public relations directives, and deletion of encrypted phone records as serious crimes.

The court has set January 16, 2026, for the first-instance ruling. The core issue of this verdict is expected to be the extent to which the political judgment of martial law will be separated from criminal responsibility.

Reporter Jung Woo-seok