Yoon's Defense Team: "Claim They Discussed Martial Law While Drunk Makes No Sense... A Desperate Choice"

Denies allegations of long-term preparations for martial law
"A self-coup makes no sense"

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial for allegedly leading an insurrection, denied at the final arguments in his appeal that he had spent a long time preparing for martial law, arguing that a dinner with military commanders was a routine occasion to offer encouragement.

Yoon's defense team made the argument on the 3rd during the final hearing of his appeal, held before the Seoul High Court's Criminal Division 12-1 (High Court Judges Lee Seungcheol, Jo Jingu and Kim Mina). Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Yoon in the appeal.

Yoon's defense team said, "The meal with the military commanders was a dinner to offer encouragement in accordance with normal practice. It was nothing more than an ordinary meal or a club gathering, let alone the martial law plot alleged by the special counsel," adding, "A self-coup without a resolution or an oath of loyalty makes no sense."

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol enters the courtroom. Yonhap News Agency.

In particular, regarding a dinner held around November 9, 2024, at the official residence of the defense minister, the team argued, "The attendees were so drunk that it was difficult to have a conversation. Former Army Special Warfare Command chief Kwak Jong-geun was unconscious, and former Defense Counterintelligence Command chief Yeo In-hyung was in the same state," adding, "It is hard to understand how anyone could discuss something as serious as martial law while drunk."

Yoon's defense team also reiterated the legitimacy of declaring martial law. "Martial law was a desperate choice by the president, as head of state, to inform the people of a situation threatening the nation's survival," it said. "There are no checks in place even when the National Assembly abuses its power with its majority."

Taking aim at recent discussions within the ruling camp about impeaching Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, the team said, "Now they are turning the sword of impeachment on the judiciary as well, and it is becoming a reality," adding, "The president was also trying to inform the public of anti-state abuses at the time."

Yoon's defense team also emphasized that martial law was announced not behind closed doors but through a live address to the nation. "If it had been a self-coup, he would have sent in the military instead of announcing it live," it said.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.