Bombshell allegations: A customer showing a copy of Han’s memoir ‘The People First’ at a bookstore in Seoul. — AFP
Suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol would frequently “rant” about declaring martial law over drinks with colleagues, according to a new book by the former leader of his ruling party.
Yoon plunged democratic South Korea into political turmoil when he declared martial law on Dec 3, suspending civilian rule and sending soldiers to parliament.
The attempt only lasted six hours as the opposition-led parliament defied troops to vote it down, later impeaching him over the move.
In his new book, Han Dong-hoon, who led Yoon’s ruling People Power Party at the time, says colleagues had heard the ousted president float the possibility of suspending civilian rule before – but that they had not taken him seriously.
“A significant number of party lawmakers who had shared drinks with the president said he would often rant about martial law in private gatherings,” writes Han.
“They bitterly admitted that they hadn’t realised he might have actually meant it.”
Han’s memoir, titled The People First, topped pre-orders for over a week in South Korean bookshops and offers first-hand insider accounts of the fateful night Yoon declared martial law.
The book opens with a dramatic text exchange between Han and a senior presidential official just before the declaration of martial law, when the latter warned that “the worst” is about to take place.
Han writes that many lawmakers had feared they would get arrested and killed that night, but pressed on regardless to the National Assembly to vote down the martial law.
“I might get arrested, but I have to endure it. I need to get to the National Assembly as soon as possible-there’s no time to lose,” Han recalls telling his party spokesperson that night.
His fears were not unfounded: a former senior intelligence official has claimed to possess a memo containing a list of individuals Yoon ordered arrested that night – including Han.
Han details a meeting with Yoon hours after the martial law was lifted, where he confronted Yoon about an attempt to arrest him.
Yoon reportedly replied: “There is no truth to the claim.”
Han also describes a US official as having “serious concerns” over the martial law and the lack of clarity over who would be in charge if North Korea attacked.
“If the martial law situation had not been resolved quickly, it seemed likely that important issues would have arisen in foreign affairs and security, including relations with the United States,” Han writes. — AP
