Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, found himself at odds with both ruling and opposition parties over the fact that he changed his mobile phone just after the emergency martial law situation on Dec. 3.
The National Assembly's Legislative and Judiciary Committee held a hearing to investigate the impeachment case against Deputy Prime Minister Choi that morning.
During the hearing, Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Yong-min asked Deputy Prime Minister Choi if he had changed his mobile phone and SIM card after the emergency martial law, to which Choi replied, "No."
Following Choi's response, Chairperson Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party, referred to data received from the communication company by lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae. Chairperson Jeong claimed, "While he says he hasn't changed his mobile device, the records indicate that he switched from a Galaxy S24 Ultra to a Galaxy Z Fold 6 right after the martial law on Dec. 7, 2024," and he asked, "Is the data wrong?"
In response, Deputy Prime Minister Choi noted, "(Lawmaker Kim) asked if I changed it after the martial law," and he added, "It is true that I changed it because the (previous mobile phone) was broken." He continued, "I did not change it out of intent."
Then Chairperson Jeong stated, "I will give you an opportunity to provide an accurate answer," adding, "This is clearly perjury." Meanwhile, opposition members shouted at Deputy Prime Minister Choi, accusing him of "lying" and demanding, "Apologize!" In retaliation, members of the People Power Party responded, "Do not intimidate the witness."
With tensions rising, Chairperson Jeong again asked about the truth, to which Deputy Prime Minister Choi replied, "I don't remember the exact date," and he added, "However, I did not change it intentionally, and I currently have both." He also said, "I did not commit perjury at all," expressing, "I apologize for causing any misunderstanding."
Later, People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo stated, "The crux of the question was whether he had disposed of the mobile phone after the emergency martial law for the purpose of destroying evidence," asserting that "(Deputy Prime Minister Choi) changed the phone because it was broken and is currently keeping the changed mobile phone. He did not intentionally replace it to destroy evidence."
The hearing also raised the issue of whether Deputy Prime Minister Choi received a note containing the contents of establishing an emergency legislative body from former President Yoon Suk-yeol at the Cabinet meeting held just before the declaration of martial law. Opposition members claimed that receiving the note was evidence that Deputy Prime Minister Choi was aware of and involved in the declaration of martial law.
In response, People Power Party lawmaker Jang Dong-hyuck asked Vice Minister of Justice Kim Seok-woo, "Does simply receiving a note imply participation or acquiescence in the execution of (martial law)?" Vice Minister Kim replied, "If he had known in advance about the declaration of martial law, it would be different, but if he received the note without prior knowledge and did not thoroughly understand the contents on site, it would limit the circumstances under which we could attribute the crime of acquiescence."