South Korea remains gripped by a deepening constitutional crisis following last week’s unprecedented events. Colonel Kim Hyun-tae, commander of the 707th Special Missions Group, the elite special forces unit that raided the National Assembly, delivered a poignant press conference on Monday, taking full responsibility for his troops’ actions. He insisted, however, that his orders came directly from the then-defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun.
The raid occurred after President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law on December 3rd, a move swiftly rescinded hours later when lawmakers defied security forces to convene and vote against the emergency measure. This defiance, coupled with a failed impeachment attempt on Saturday, has plunged the nation into a state of political turmoil. President Yoon, now facing a criminal investigation, survived the weekend’s impeachment vote but offered no resignation, instead stating he would entrust his fate to his ruling party.
Colonel Kim detailed the events, explaining that his unit was deployed to the National Assembly with explicit orders to prevent lawmakers from entering the building, aiming to block a vote to overturn the martial law declaration. However, they encountered resistance from legislative staff inside, hindering their access. With tears in his eyes, Colonel Kim declared, “We were all victims, used by the former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun. The members of the 707th are not guilty. Their only guilt is that they followed orders.” This emotional appeal underscores the intense pressure and complex chain of command involved in the controversial actions.
The former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, was arrested on Sunday for his role in the martial law declaration and the deployment of troops. Meanwhile, the political landscape remains fraught with tension. The leader of President Yoon’s People Power Party, Han Dong-hoon, announced that the president would be temporarily excluded from foreign and other state affairs, with the party and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo managing governmental functions. National Assembly speaker Woo Won-shik declared the delegation of presidential authority unconstitutional, unless in the case of impeachment. The main opposition Democratic Party, which initiated the failed impeachment bid, has vowed to bring forth another motion, signaling an ongoing struggle for power and control.
The situation remains highly volatile, with the legal and political ramifications of the events still unfolding. The future of President Yoon’s presidency hangs in the balance, and the nation awaits further developments with bated breath. The arrest of the former defense minister provides a crucial next step in uncovering the full truth behind the events leading to the unprecedented raid on the National Assembly.
