Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the ruling People Power Party speaks during an interview with The Korea Times at his office in Seoul, Jan. 15. Courtesy of Rep. Yu Yong-weon's office

Rep. Yu Yong-weon of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), a member of the National Assembly's National Defense Committee and widely recognized as a military affairs expert, was just as stunned as everyone else last month, when President Yoon Suk Yeol unexpectedly declared martial law.

"The declaration of martial law in early December was shocking because it exposed the military's continuing influence on political affairs. I believe it was wrong," Yu, also a former journalist for the Chosun Ilbo daily, said in a recent interview with The Korea Times at his office.

"It's hard to imagine former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and several top military commanders, who witnessed the nation's struggles with military rule in the 1970s and 1980s, would attempt to intervene in political affairs. I agree that the military needs reform, particularly in terms of ethics education and civil-military relations," he said.

The lawmaker praised the actions of some mid-ranking officers and soldiers who resisted what they saw as unjust orders issued by the president on Dec. 3. He noted that some young soldiers deployed to enforce martial law at the National Assembly and the National Election Commission showed passive resistance or delayed following orders, with some even taking breaks to visit nearby convenience stores.

"Their efforts prevented bloodshed and tragedy. We need to revise relevant laws and regulations related to military conduct," he said.

An interesting aspect of Yu's background is that he founded one of the largest military-related internet communities in Korea in the early 2000s. Initially called Yu Yong-weon's Military World, the site was later renamed BEMIL Military World after he left his journalistic career and entered politics. The name "Bemil" is derived from the Korean word for secret. The site once attracted legions of arms and military enthusiasts.

Yu also shared his views on the potential implications of Donald Trump's return to the White House, outlining the tasks and challenges South Korea will face moving forward.

Raising the possibility of the Trump administration demanding increased defense cost sharing, Yu argued that South Korea should "secure potential nuclear capabilities" as leverage with the U.S. He suggested this would require revising the U.S.-South Korea Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation, signed in 2015.

"South Korea's nuclear reprocessing is subject to further negotiation with the U.S. We should pursue nuclear latency — the condition of possessing the technical capabilities and resources necessary for the development of nuclear weapons," he said.

He pointed out that the U.S. had been relying on Russia for about a quarter of its enriched uranium supply. But Russia imposed a ban on exports to the U.S. in recent years amid its invasion of Ukraine.

"South Korea has advanced capabilities in nuclear technology, so granting us consent to reprocess spent nuclear reactor fuel could be a win-win for both countries," Yu said.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Washington, Sunday, a day ahead of his inauguration. AP-Yonhap

Recent years have seen the South Korean public increasing its support for the country pursuing nuclear capabilities as a means of strengthening deterrence against the escalating nuclear threat posed by the North.

The PPP lawmaker also advised South Korea leverage its world-class capabilities in building naval and commercial vessels to persuade its ally, as Trump had emphasized during his phone call with the South Korean president in November.

Yu said the likelihood of the U.S. withdrawing its troops from South Korea is slim, as the presence of the U.S. military in the country also serves Washington's national security interests, particularly in restraining China.

"Withdrawing U.S. troops from South Korea does not align with Washington's current policies. While reducing ground troops may be considered, if we effectively explain how North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities pose a threat to regional and global stability, the U.S. may reconsider its stance," he said.

Yu said he believes a summit between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea is unlikely to occur in the near future.

"North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's desire for a new summit with Trump may be low because Pyongyang has been receiving financial support and technical assistance from Russia in exchange for ammunition and troops to fight in the war in Ukraine. While the North Korean threat continues to grow and become more dire, it has somewhat slipped down the priority list as the Ukraine war and the crisis in the Middle East are more immediate concerns," he said.

The lawmaker, who secured a seat in the National Assembly during the April general elections last year, emphasized that South Korea should "prepare for the worst-case scenario" if a summit does take place.

"Potential negotiations could involve intercontinental ballistic missiles, which pose a direct threat to the U.S. mainland. This could lead to smaller deals such as arms control or a disarmament agreement with Pyongyang. These are the worst-case scenarios for Seoul. We must make every diplomatic effort to achieve complete denuclearization and establish peace on the peninsula, which should also include negotiations on North Korea's short- and medium-range missile systems," he said.