Seoul, January 23 (IANS) – Lee Jin-woo, the former chief of South Korea’s Capital Defence Command, has denied any wrongdoing in relation to his involvement in the controversial martial law declaration by impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Lee, who faces charges of insurrection and abuse of power, asserted that he was simply following orders when he took military action in response to Yoon’s decree on December 3, 2025.
During a preliminary hearing at a court martial in Seoul, Lee’s lawyer emphasized that Lee’s actions were in accordance with military protocols and that he believed Yoon’s martial law declaration was legally sanctioned. The lawyer argued that Lee had no intention of inciting insurrection or causing disorder in the nation’s constitutional order.
Lee stands accused of ordering the deployment of troops to the National Assembly, instructing them to enter the building and forcibly remove lawmakers. Despite these allegations, his defense maintains that these were military measures carried out under the authority of his commander-in-chief, and Lee did not foresee them as unconstitutional or unlawful.
The lawyer also called for the suspension of Lee’s trial until the Constitutional Court makes a ruling on Yoon’s impeachment, claiming that a decision on the validity of Yoon’s actions would be pivotal to determining the legality of the martial law declaration.
The prosecution’s special investigation unit indicted Lee last month, and he has been placed under physical detention. In a related development, the South Korean military has officially dismissed Lee and three other senior commanders from their posts due to their roles in the failed martial law imposition.
The ongoing legal proceedings also involve President Yoon, who attended a hearing earlier today in connection with his own impeachment trial. This marks the second time Yoon has personally appeared at a hearing over the short-lived martial law attempt.
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