Former President Yoon Seok-yeol's Controversial Statement: "We Should Have Sent 1,000 Soldiers" After the Resolution to Lift Martial Law Passed

A shocking court testimony revealed that former President Yoon Seok-yeol made a statement insisting, "We should have sent 1,000 soldiers," following the passage of the National Assembly's resolution to lift the '12.3 Martial Law.'

During the trial for sedition charges against former President Yoon, which took place at the Seoul Central District Court on the 16th, former military aide to the Defense Ministry, Kim Cheol-jin, testified about this incident.

On the 16th, the 25th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Judge Ji Gyu-yeon) held the seventh hearing regarding former President Yoon's charges of sedition and other offenses, questioning Kim Cheol-jin, the former military aide.

Kim is known to be an associate of former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun.

According to Kim's testimony, shortly after the resolution to lift martial law was passed in the National Assembly on December 4 of last year, around 1:20 AM, former President Yoon visited the decision support room in the Ministry of National Defense’s combat control center. During this meeting, which lasted about 30 minutes, former President Yoon held discussions with key military figures, including former Minister Kim and Army Chief of Staff Park An-soo.

Kim testified that former President Yoon asked former Minister Kim, "How many troops did we deploy to the National Assembly?" and when Kim responded with "around 500," Yoon reportedly said, "See, that’s insufficient. We should have sent 1,000. What are we going to do now?”

Kim elaborated on the situation, saying that former Minister Kim struggled to respond to Yoon’s repeated questions and eventually answered with "around 500."

Additionally, Kim mentioned witnessing former Minister Kim speaking on the phone with former National Intelligence Service Commander Noh Sang-won.

He recalled, "I remember (former Minister Kim) receiving calls where he said, 'Yes, Sang-won’ about two to three times."

Allegations Regarding Noh Sang-won’s Suspicious Role and Personnel Interference Rumors

Kim testified about rumors surrounding Noh Sang-won, stating, "There were rumors that after the promotion announcement of generals, Noh had intervened in personnel affairs and his reputation was not good."

He added, "On the day of the martial law, I heard (former Minister Kim) say 'Yes, Sang-won' during a call, and later learned that Noh was involved in the incident."

Particularly, Kim explained that he thought to himself, "So it’s Noh Sang-won," based on reports that he visited the minister's residence on the morning of December 3 last year.

Regarding the rumors of interference in personnel affairs by former Commander Noh, Kim said, "I heard an uncomfortable story that personnel decisions were made by Noh after the generals’ appointments,” adding, “I had heard that he worked closely with former Minister Kim before his retirement and thought personally that I should have the opportunity to give him direct advice if possible."

Image Source: Former President Yoon Seok-yeol attends the seventh hearing for charges of sedition and abuse of power at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 16th. / News1, As martial law was abruptly declared by President Yoon on December 4 last year, martial law troops attempted to enter the main building of the National Assembly, where assembly staff, including parliamentary aides, confronted them. / News1, News1