Headline: Purported ‘Treason’ President’s Account of National Assembly Raid Contradicted by Army Accounts
Subhead: Soldiers who participated in the Dec 3 incident received ‘ideological training’ suggesting the move was constitutional. They felt the order was flawed from the beginning.
Body:
In a surprising development, a former military commander has shared testimony from soldiers who participated in the Dec 3 incident, revealing that they received ‘ideological training’ after returning to their bases. This training contradicts President Yoon Suk-yeol‘s claim that the National Assembly raid was a legitimate exercise of his constitutional powers.
The former commander, identified only as ‘K’, told Hankyoreh on Dec 19 that soldiers who had been deployed to the National Assembly received the training immediately after the martial law was lifted on Dec 4. During this session, they were taught that the raid was constitutional and that they were not there to arrest lawmakers but to protect the National Assembly from potential harm.
Officials close to the matter revealed that the soldiers’ mobile phones were confiscated before the training and returned afterwards. Intriguingly, the content of the training mirrored President Yoon’s address to the nation on Dec 7, where he defended the use of martial law and claimed that the deployment was to maintain order, not arrest lawmakers.
Soldiers, however, felt uneasy from the outset. According to ‘K’, soldiers felt that something was amiss even while receiving the orders. They passive-aggressively complied with the orders, citing difficulties in entering the National Assembly due to the presence of other security personnel and civilians.
Meanwhile, Hankyoreh continues its comprehensive coverage of the Dec 3 coup attempt. If you have information related to the planning, execution, or those involved in the coup, please contact us at 123@hani.co.kr. Your identity will be protected, and your contribution will be used solely for the public good.
Author Bios:
- YJ Kim is a senior political correspondent at Hankyoreh, focusing on national security and defense issues. Contact him at yes@hani.co.kr.
- CW Kim is a political reporter at Hankyoreh, covering the presidency and political developments. Reach her at cwk@hani.co.kr.
*HF Shin is a veteran political journalist at Hankyoreh, specializing in political scandals and corruption. Contact him at newiron@hani.co.kr.
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