Martial law troops gather at the main building of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, shortly after midnight, Wednesday, following President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration the previous night. Yonhap

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo was completely unaware of President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration. This was because Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, a former upperclassman of President Yoon in high school, bypassed the prime minister and communicated directly with the president.

Additionally, elite military units, specifically the 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade, were deployed to the National Assembly, signaling an aggressive move to suppress political opposition.

A source said, "This martial law action appears orchestrated by the 'Chungam faction,' with (Defense) Minister Kim directly coordinating with President Yoon." The "Chungam faction" refers to those who graduated from Chungam High School in Seoul.

Following the president's emergency briefing and martial law declaration, the military established the Martial Law Command within the Ministry of National Defense compound, appointing Army Chief of Staff Park An-su as the commander.

Diplomatic sources noted that despite the defense minister's recommendation for martial law, no cabinet meeting was convened, leaving the prime minister and his staff uninformed.

Opposition parties suspect that direct communication channels between the military and police were activated during the martial law declaration process.

They believe that the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency was engaged directly, bypassing the National Police Agency, to control access to the National Assembly.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo departs the Government Complex in Jongno District, Seoul, following the National Assembly's resolution to lift martial law in the early hours of Wednesday. Yonnhap

Furthermore, the 1st Airborne Special Forces Brigade, an elite unit under the Army Special Warfare Command, swiftly attempted to enter the main hall of the National Assembly. This brigade, known as the Eagle Unit, is the oldest of the special forces, originally formed in 1958.

However, at around 1 a.m. on Dec. 4, following the National Assembly's resolution to lift martial law, military personnel withdrew from the main assembly hall. A military official said, "It is difficult to confirm which units were deployed."

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.