Cabinet members and government officials in the front and second rows and military officials attend a hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, for the Assembly's investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. From front row left are former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, National Security Adviser Shin Won-sik and National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

A special committee in the National Assembly investigating insurrection allegations related to President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration on Dec. 3 issued orders on Wednesday to bring in key officials as witnesses to testify at its hearing.

In a decision passed by an 11-7 vote, the opposition-led committee ordered testimony from seven officials implicated in the alleged conspiracy to plan martial law. The individuals summoned included the president, former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former Defense Intelligence Commander Noh Sang-won, Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, the former head of the Army Special Warfare Command, Brig. Gen. Koo Sam-hoe, former commander of the 2nd Armored Brigade, and Maj. Gen. Moon Sang-ho, the former chief of the Defense Intelligence Command.

Ruling People Power Party (PPP) lawmakers opposed the order, calling it a politically motivated attempt to publicly humiliate the embattled president. Yoon is currently detained at Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, facing charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power.

Despite the committee's attempt to have them appear at the National Assembly by 2 p.m., only Kwak showed up later in the afternoon.

Opposition lawmakers condemned Yoon's statement in his impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court on Tuesday, in which he denied allegations that he ordered military commanders to "drag out" lawmakers from the National Assembly after declaring martial law. He also denied giving a note to then-Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, asking him to draw up a budget for an "emergency legislative body."

Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min, seated in front row second from left, refuses to take an oath while other witnesses do so during a hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, for the Assembly's investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who attended the hearing, said he did not recall seeing the president give a note to Choi at a Cabinet meeting held just before the martial law declaration.

"I was in shock, so I don't recall the event," Han said.

Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the National Intelligence Service, reiterated his claim on Wednesday, saying the president made a phone call and ordered him to arrest politicians, including then PPP leader Han Dong-hoon, Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) leader Rep. Lee Jae-myung and minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party leader Rep. Cho Kuk.

Kwak said the president called him on a secure phone on Dec. 3 and ordered him to drag lawmakers out of the National Assembly building during the enforcement of martial law.

Former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min refused to testify during questioning over allegations that he requested the National Fire Agency (NFA) to cut off electricity and water supplies to several media outlets on Dec. 3. Heo Seok-gon, commissioner of the NFA, confirmed the claim during a parliamentary meeting on Monday.

"I refuse to testify," Lee said.

He also refused to take his oath at the parliamentary hearing. After Rep. Ahn Gyu-back of the DPK, who leads the committee, requested he cooperate with lawmakers, Lee said, "If people give testimonies based on their personal experiences and perspectives, they will create more confusion. I think it is desirable to inform the public through fact-finding investigations and trials."

Kim Sung-hoon, deputy chief of the Presidential Security Service (PSS), answers lawmakers' questions during a hearing at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday, for the Assembly's investigation into President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 martial law declaration. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Kim Sung-hoon, deputy chief of the Presidential Security Service (PSS), also refused to comment on allegations surrounding first lady Kim Keon Hee.

Rep. Youn Kun-young of the DPK made assertions based on reports he said he received from undisclosed sources, alleging that the PSS provided the first lady with a secure phone.

"I can't confirm that," Kim responded.

During the hearing, Ahn urged Kim to cooperate with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in their attempt to search the presidential residence and seize the server records of a secure phone used by Yoon.

"The first lady is also under the protection of the PSS. I will review the relevant laws and determine whether to cooperate with the agency's request accordingly," Kim said.