Seoul: Colonel Kim Hyun-tae, the commanding officer of South Korea’s elite 707th Special Missions Group, disclosed on Monday that he received direct orders from the defense minister to block lawmakers from entering parliament during the country’s brief martial law declaration. The raid, carried out by special forces on December 3, was intended to prevent a vote to annul the emergency measure.
Kim, addressing reporters outside the defense ministry in Seoul, stated:
“We were all victims who were used by the former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun. The members of the Group are not guilty. Their only guilt is that they followed the orders of their commander.”
Fighting back tears, Kim accepted full responsibility for the raid while reiterating that his actions were dictated by superiors.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who faces a criminal investigation over the incident, declared martial law on December 3, only to rescind it within hours after lawmakers bypassed a security cordon to invalidate the measure. The incident has plunged South Korea into a constitutional crisis, with Yoon narrowly surviving an impeachment vote in the opposition-led parliament on Saturday.
Constitutional Clash
The fallout from the martial law declaration has led to a political standoff. Yoon stated ahead of the impeachment vote that he would leave his fate in the hands of his ruling People Power Party but did not offer to step down.
The party’s leader, Han Dong-hoon, announced on Sunday that Yoon would be excluded from overseeing foreign and state affairs, leaving the Prime Minister, Han Duck-soo, to manage government operations temporarily. This move was criticized by National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, who argued it was unconstitutional to delegate presidential authority unless the president is officially impeached.
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Defense Minister Arrested
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was arrested on Sunday for his involvement in declaring martial law and ordering the deployment of troops to parliament. Meanwhile, legislative staffers reportedly clashed with the 707th unit during the raid, blocking their entry into the chamber.
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Political Fallout
The main opposition Democratic Party, which spearheaded the impeachment motion, vowed to renew its efforts after Saturday’s failed attempt. The party condemned Yoon’s actions as a severe breach of constitutional order and called for his immediate resignation.
As the nation grapples with the crisis, questions remain over the role of the military in civilian governance and the legality of the orders given during the tumultuous December 3 events.
