Han Duck-soo, center, former prime minister, and related ministers and vice ministers leave the Cabinet meeting room at the Government Complex in Jongno District, Seoul, on Dec. 4, the day after the martial law declaration. Yonhap

Many Cabinet members felt "frozen" during the meeting held just before the martial law declaration, unable to oppose President Yoon Suk Yeol for fear that the military might encircle and control them.

According to multiple government sources on Thursday, some Cabinet members expressed fears after the emergency Cabinet meeting, which was held at 10:17 p.m., Dec. 3.

One member was quoted as saying, "What if the military seizes my home?" Another said, "I was frozen at the very mention of martial law."

Yoon concluded the Cabinet meeting as a formality and immediately declared martial law.

A government official said, "When protests arose during post-martial law meetings in various ministries questioning why they had not strongly opposed the declaration, some Cabinet members admitted these fears."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said during a National Assembly session on Dec. 11, "All Cabinet members expressed opposition or concern during the meeting convened by President Yoon."

However, only two ministers — Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy Choi Sang-mok and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul — explicitly raised their hands to oppose the decision in front of the president.

Cho followed Yoon as he moved to the briefing room to declare martial law, urging him, "Martial law is absolutely unacceptable." Cho also revealed that he had received a note from Yoon during the meeting but had left it in the conference room.

According to the 2017 Defense Security Command's contingency martial law document, Cho would have been tasked with distributing materials justifying martial law to diplomatic missions at home and abroad. However, during the emergency staff meeting immediately following the declaration, he did not issue such orders.

The Supreme Court had previously ruled that during the May 17, 1980, emergency martial law declaration, the authoritarian military group coerced the president and Cabinet ministers.

Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul answers questions during an emergency inquiry session on President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration at the National Assembly's plenary session on Dec. 13. (Yonhap)

Cho: 'No one understands how I feel'

During the Tuesday Cabinet meeting, Cho was one of the few ministers who supported Choi's announcement of Constitutional Court justice appointments.

In contrast, Employment and Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo, Science and ICT Minister Yoo Sang-im and Minister of Government Legislation Lee Wan-kyu strongly opposed Choi's decision.

Asked about his feelings on the situation as he arrived at his office on Thursday, Cho said, "I am doing everything I can to stabilize the government as quickly as possible," adding, "No one understands how I feel right now."

During the New Year's ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cho also expressed his profound regret over the martial law incident.

"As we vividly experienced just a month ago, moments of crisis can arise without warning," he said, urging staff to take responsibility with a sense of ownership.

"Let us deeply reflect on how even the smallest mistake or oversight in diplomacy can lead to costly consequences and approach every matter with the utmost caution," he said.

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