South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense stated it would not comply with any potential request from President Yoon Suk-yeol for a second martial law declaration.South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has vowed to reject any potential request from President Yoon Suk-yeol to declare martial law for a second time.
Acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho addressed the issue during a Dec. 6 briefing at the ministry’s headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul.
“The claims about preparations for a ‘second martial law,’ raised earlier today, are entirely unfounded,” Kim said. “Even if such a request were made, the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff would categorically refuse to comply.”
Kim apologized for the public unrest caused by the Dec. 3 martial law declaration. “We take full responsibility for the concerns and distress this situation has caused the public. Once again, I offer my sincerest apologies,” he said. The ministry will fully cooperate with the prosecution’s investigation into the matter, Kim added, including dispatching personnel from the Ministry of National Defense Prosecutor’s Office to support a joint probe.
The Center for Military Human Rights Korea, an advocacy group, claimed earlier in the day that several Army units had received “emergency assembly orders for commanders” ahead of Dec. 8, suggesting another martial law declaration was in the works. However, the Army dismissed the claims as groundless.
A Joint Chiefs of Staff official also urged caution regarding misinformation. “There is a significant amount of false information circulating that needs to be carefully scrutinized,” the official said.
