Yoon Denies Existence of Martial Law Master Plan During Special Investigation

Former President Yoon Suk Yeol stated during an investigation by the second special prosecutor team led by Kwon Chang-young that there was no "master plan" for a martial law declaration, asserting that it was merely a declaration without any follow-up actions.

Special Prosecutor Kim Jeong-min reported in a press briefing on July 3 that when asked about the purpose and timeline of the martial law, Yoon responded, "It was just a declaration, and therefore, no subsequent actions were taken."

Regarding a document containing directives for establishing an emergency legislative body that Yoon handed to then Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, he claimed, "I didn’t write it; I didn’t know the contents well, and it was given to me by former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun."

Yoon also expressed that upon reviewing the document, he found it inappropriate, stating, "The message and purpose of the martial law do not align."

When questioned about attempts to arrest lawmakers and politicians for violating the martial law, Yoon firmly stated, "Absolutely not," and described police arrest activities as "a blatant lie."

In response, Special Prosecutor Kim expressed disappointment, saying, "It is regrettable from an investigative standpoint. For someone who has served as head of state, it would have been better if he had explained and justified his actions confidently, but it was disappointing."

Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team is reportedly leaning toward not prosecuting Yoon and others for charges of rebellion under military law. This decision is believed to be influenced by the potential for double jeopardy, as the insurrection special investigation team has already indicted them on related charges that are currently under trial.