Former Special Warfare Command Commander Kwak Jong-geun testified in court that during the martial law on December 3 last year, while moving with special forces soldiers to the National Assembly, he was on a call with someone and declared, "I will break down the door to get in." According to the prosecution, it has been identified that Commander Kwak was on a call with former President Yoon Suk-yeol and former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun while moving to the National Assembly on the day of the martial law.
On the 19th, the 25th Division of the Criminal Court of the Seoul Central District Court (Director General Ji Gwi-yeon) held the fourth trial concerning former President Yoon's charge of being the leader of a rebellion from 10:15 a.m. to 6:19 p.m.
On this day, former President Yoon walked through the photo line and entered the courtroom. It was the same as at the third trial held last week. Previously, the court had allowed former President Yoon to enter the courtroom through the underground entrance during the first and second trials, but from the third trial, it was not permitted. However, former President Yoon remained silent in response to reporters' questions.
On this day, the testimony of Brigadier General Park Jeong-hwan, Chief of Staff of the Special Warfare Command, was conducted. Brigadier General Park is reported to have testified to the investigation that he saw former President Yoon on the phone with former Commander Kwak Jong-geun during the martial law.
The prosecution asked Brigadier General Park, "Did Kwak Jong-geun communicate with his superior in the form of a declaration?" To this, Brigadier General Park replied, "I remember that during my testimony to the prosecution, he declared, 'I will break down the door to get in.'" When the prosecution asked, "Did Kwak Jong-geun declare, 'Yes, I understand. I will break down the door to get in'?" Brigadier General Park answered, "Yes."
The prosecution asked Brigadier General Park, "Is it correct that the person whom former Commander Kwak ordered to pull out was a member of the National Assembly?" To this, Brigadier General Park stated, "He directly ordered to pull out members of the National Assembly." He added, "It was very shocking that he gave such an order to pull them out."
Brigadier General Park stated, "After the motion to lift martial law was passed, former Commander Kwak wrapped his head with both hands and curled up on the desk," adding, "He appeared to be in despair."
Following Brigadier General Park's testimony, the prosecution presented all statements regarding the charge of abuse of power against former President Yoon. Earlier, on January 26, the prosecution had charged former President Yoon only with rebellion, but on the 1st of this month, he was additionally charged with abuse of power. This was possible because former President Yoon was removed from office as president last month due to the Constitutional Court's decision to uphold his impeachment.
The prosecution claimed that former President Yoon committed abuse of power by blocking the National Assembly and obstructing the passage of the motion to lift martial law, as well as operating a joint arrest team of major politicians, including Lee Jae-myung, a candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea for president. In response, former President Yoon's side denied the charges, stating that the abuse of power charge could not be established. Former President Yoon's side asserted, "This martial law was a peaceful martial law declared in a national emergency, and former President Yoon did not directly order the blockade of the National Assembly."
The next trial for former President Yoon will be held on May 26 at 10:15 a.m.