As South Korea waits for another opposition push to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday, more details are emerging of what happened in the hours surrounding his declaration of martial law.
The following is an account of the December 3 night when Yoon announced a decision that has plunged the nation into the biggest political turmoil in years and sent shock ripples across the world. It is based on the testimony of cabinet members, who were speaking before the country’s parliament.
10:00pm
As the clock ticked toward 10pm, one minister after another arrived in the presidential office in Seoul, carrying little knowledge of why Yoon had summoned them. agriculture minister Song Miryung asked a person next to her as she seated herself in the meeting room, and heard, “martial law.”
Startled, she uttered, “Nonsense.”
Moments later, when there were 10 ministers gathered, Yoon trudged in. His presence put the group over the threshold of 11 people necessary for a legal cabinet meeting.
10:17 pm
“I haven’t discussed this with anyone,” Yoon said in his first remark, Song recalled. She couldn’t remember anything else she said from then, because her mind “had already blacked out,” she told parliament on Wednesday.
South Korea’s law requires a cabinet meeting before martial law can be declared, but the president has the discretion to act unilaterally. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok told parliament that he “strongly objected” to Yoon’s plan, contending his move would wreak havoc on the economy, including a potential downgrade of South Korea’s credit ratings.
As Choi expected, the stock market plunged in the days after Yoon declared martial law, erasing tens of billions of dollars worth of value. The South Korean won at one point tumbled against the dollar to the worst level since the global financial crisis.
10:22pm
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo testified that he joined Choi in pleading with the president to reconsider his decision, but Yoon remained stubborn, arguing the martial law was inevitable in order to safeguard the constitution.
The president then stomped out of the room, just five minutes after he had come in. The meeting ended so quickly there is not even a transcript of it.
The ministers stayed behind, stunned and wondering where he had gone. Moments later, Yoon’s voice started to come out of one person’s smartphone, declaring martial law in a nationally televised address. More shock followed.
12:41am
Worried about the impact on markets, Choi quickly arranged a meeting with top financial policymakers, including Bank of Korea Governor Rhee Chang-yong. In a statement released after midnight, they pledged “unlimited liquidity” as long as necessary.
During the meeting, Choi told the group he would step down, a decision that Rhee managed to dissuade him from. The economy, which was already facing difficulties ranging from slowing exports to Donald Trump’s tariff plans, couldn’t afford to lose its seasoned finance chief.
Across town, special forces landed on the National Assembly compound by helicopter and scuffled with lawmakers, breaking into the parliament to prevent a majority gathering that could vote to nullify Yoon’s move.
12:47am
Still, some 190 lawmakers managed to sneak in, including main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, who live-streamed himself jumping over the wall to get in.
In a unanimous vote that included support from ruling party lawmakers, the parliament forced the cancellation of Yoon’s decree. Troops started to pull out.
4:27am
Yoon re-appeared on national television and said he was retracting his martial-law declaration, ending a six-hour row that now threatens to cut his single, five-year term short.
Yoon reiterated his argument that the opposition was pushing to paralyze his government with a series of impeachment motions against top officials and a unilateral cut to his budget plan. He would repeat his stance eight days later, vowing to face impeachment head-on.
A week later
Yoon’s defense minister during the night has since been arrested on charges of treason and attempted suicide behind bars. The rest of the cabinet faces allegations that they may have colluded with Yoon to impose martial law.
The other cabinet members have denied any active role in Yoon’s decision and are seeking to defend themselves. In one hearing, Justice Minister Park Sung Jae was asked whether he’d join a legal defense team for Yoon, and sparked laughter when he replied, “I’ve got a fire in my own backyard.”
Prime Minister Han said on Wednesday that he regretted not doing more to stop Yoon, even if it would’ve involved physically grabbing the president by the ankles.
“Looking back now, I probably should’ve done so,” he said. “I’m so heart-broken I couldn’t stop it.”
