the president ignored the disagreement of three ministers before declaring martial law, according to the prosecution

Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol ignored the disagreement of three major ministers before his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law in early December, according to a prosecutor's report seen by AFP on Sunday. The indictment document for the Minister of Defense in office during this coup, considered to be one of its instigators, reveals that the then Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Finance expressed reservations the night of December 3, before Yoon Suk Yeol made his shock announcement.

The former star prosecutor stunned South Korea by proclaiming martial law by surprise, sending the army to Parliament to try to silence him. However, it was defeated a few hours later by deputies and was forced to cancel it. Before this fiascothe three ministers had expressed their concern about the consequences of such a decision, during a meeting called by Yoon Suk Yeol himself. “The economy would face great difficulties and I fear a decline in our international credibility”said Han Duck-soo, the prime minister in office at the time.

Han Duck-soo temporarily served as acting president after Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached by the Assembly on December 14. But he was also ejected by the deputies on the 27th, accused of obstructing the proceedings against Yoon Suk Yeol. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cho Tae-yul, for his part estimated that martial law “destroy South Korea’s successes built over the past 70 years”. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, current interim president, thought that the measure would have “devastating effects on the economy and credibility of the country”. “There will be no turning back”Yoon Suk Yeol responded, claiming that the opposition, which has a majority in Parliament, would otherwise lead the country to ruin.

In his speech proclaiming martial law, Yoon Suk Yeol said he wanted “eliminate elements hostile to the State”. A summarized version of this report, consulted by AFP in December, explained that he had authorized the army to fire to open the doors of Parliament on the evening of the events. It was nothing of the sort. The deposed president's lawyer, Yoon Kab-keun, told AFP that there was no “no evidence” of a possible rebellion, while Yoon Suk Yeol is the subject of an investigation in this regard. Yoon Suk Yeol is currently suspended, pending the Constitutional Court confirming or overturning his dismissal by mid-June.