President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks with then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun during a military parade marking Armed Forces Day at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, Oct. 1. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seok

President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared at the fifth hearing of his impeachment trial, Feb. 4, dismissing the case against him as baseless. "Nothing actually happened in this case, yet there's all this talk of 'Was it ordered?' 'Was it received?' It feels like chasing the reflection of the moon on the surface of a lake," he said.

Regarding the alleged plan to operate arrest squads targeting key political figures, Yoon scoffed, saying, "Does that even make sense logically?" He reiterated his claim that the martial law plans were merely a "warning measure."

However, the findings of the prosecution and police investigations tell a completely different story. In the run-up to the martial law declaration, upon hearing a furious Yoon say, "Is this even a country? We need to set things right. We must prepare an emergency plan for the nation," then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun began drafting the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, a public address to the nation and emergency decrees.

Yoon had raised the topics of "emergency authority," "national emergency measures" and "martial law" with Kim at least seven times. As Yoon's rhetoric became increasingly extreme, Kim systematically prepared everything necessary for the enforcement of martial law.

The following is a reconstructed timeline of the martial law declaration and the Dec. 3 Cabinet meeting, based on Yoon's indictment on charges of leading an insurrection, along with various investigative records.

In the early hours of Dec. 4, martial law forces enter the main building of the National Assembly in Seoul, following President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3. Yonhap

Yoon's long-standing obsession with 'removing anti-state forces'

Even before these events, Yoon frequently expressed his belief that "there is no future for South Korea unless we eliminate the pro-North communist factions and other anti-state elements operating throughout society."

He saw it as his duty to "eradicate anti-state forces and defend the liberal democratic system." Kim, who shared this conviction, had been one of Yoon's closest aides. Serving as Yoon's chief presidential security officer from May 10, 2022, Kim shadowed the president for over two years before being appointed defense minister, Sept. 6.

Prosecutors determined that Yoon had been considering invoking emergency powers long before the general election, April 10, 2024.

At a secret meeting at the presidential safe house in Samcheong-dong in late March or early April, Yoon told key security officials — including then-Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Cho Tae-yong, Military Counterintelligence Command chief Yeo In-hyung and then Presidential Security Service chief Kim Yong-hyun — that "the only way forward is through emergency powers" and that "the military must step up."

Yoon's rhetoric became increasingly aggressive. During an early August dinner at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong with Kim and Yeo, Yoon discussed political figures and members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), saying, "Under the current legal system, there's no way to deal with these people. We need to use emergency measures to take action against them."

Following the declaration of martial law, Yoon gave the order: "Arrest them all." The targets included sitting and former lawmakers, as well as the head of the KCTU.

Preparing emergency decrees one week before martial law

Kim began formal preparations for martial law after a meeting with Yoon, Nov. 24. At the presidential residence that day, Yoon complained about the National Assembly, saying, "The National Assembly is engaging in sabotage — we need emergency measures."

Having heard similar statements from Yoon six times before, Kim took this as a cue that martial law was imminent. He then drafted the martial law declaration, a presidential public address and emergency decrees.

On Nov. 30, during a personnel briefing with Yeo at the defense minister's official residence, Kim relayed Yoon's growing resolve.

"To restore order, the president has no choice but to invoke his constitutional emergency powers, including martial law. As commander-in-chief, he has the authority to do so, and there is nothing illegal about it," Kim reassured Yeo.

That same day, Kim began daily meetings with Noh Sang-won, the former commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, at his residence. Although Noh was a civilian at the time, Kim ordered him to prepare military intelligence forces to seize control of the National Election Commission (NEC).

Noh was also assigned to lead the second investigative unit under the joint military-police command tasked with probing alleged election fraud. Noh later held meetings at a Lotteria fast-food restaurant in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, with intelligence officers to finalize the plan.

At the impeachment hearing, Feb. 4, Yoon admitted to ordering military intervention at the NEC. "This wasn't about criminal investigations," Yoon said. "It was about going in and screening the NEC's computer systems, which even the [NIS] hadn't fully examined. That's why I understand martial law forces were sent in."

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and other Cabinet members leave after a closed-door emergency meeting, Dec. 4 at the Government Complex Seoul, where they discussed key issues, including the lifting of martial law. Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki

Yoon's fury at its peak just before declaration

As the martial law declaration drew closer, Yoon's frustration turned into rage. On Dec. 1, two days before martial law was declared, Yoon summoned Kim and exploded in anger.

"They're trying to impeach key government officials. They even want to impeach the auditor general and three prosecutors! This isn't just about the judiciary — it's a full-scale attack on the administration. If we don't stop this now, the country has no future," Yoon fumed.

Then he asked, "If we declare martial law now, how can we mobilize the troops? What do we need to make it happen?" Having already anticipated Yoon's next move, Kim presented a detailed report on the available military and police forces and submitted the pre-prepared martial law declaration, public address and emergency decrees.

Yoon ordered revisions — such as removing the nighttime curfew provision — and approved the final draft the following day.

On Dec. 3, the day martial law was declared, Kim put the plan into action. That morning, he met with Noh to finalize the details of the military-police joint investigation command.

After a National Security Council meeting at 10:30 a.m., Kim summoned former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and relayed an ominous message: "The president wants you at the presidential office by 9 p.m."

By noon, Kim had begun making calls to senior military officials, including Bang Jeong-hwan, head of the defense ministry's wartime operational control transition task force.

Meanwhile, under orders from Kim, Army Special Warfare Command chief Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-geun, Capital Defense Command Chief Lee Jin-woo and Yeo prepared helicopters and other military assets for deployment.

At 6:40 p.m., Kim returned to the presidential office and accompanied Yoon to the Samcheong-dong safe house. There, they met National Police Agency Commissioner General Cho Ji-ho and Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Kim Bong-sik, handing them documents containing martial law directives, including orders to blockade the National Assembly.

From 8 p.m., Yoon personally called Justice Minister Park Seong-jae, then Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, summoning them to the presidential office.

Martial law forces photograph the National Election Commission's system servers during the declaration of martial law, Dec. 3. Yonhap

The Cabinet ministers arrived to find martial law already in motion. Six of them pleaded with Yoon, warning, "Seventy years of democracy will be wiped out."

But Yoon was resolute. "I understand the impact on diplomacy and the economy. I've thought about this for a long time," he said. "No one knows about this — not even my wife. Not my chief of staff, not my senior secretaries. My wife will probably be furious when she finds out."

Kim reinforced Yoon's stance, saying, "The military is already on standby, and we've informed the media that a special presidential address will be given at 10 p.m. It's too late to change course."

Some Cabinet members tried to convene a meeting to halt Yoon's plans, but it was futile. At 10:17 p.m., when Small and Medium Enterprises Minister Oh Young-ju arrived, bringing the number of ministers present to 11 — the quorum needed for a Cabinet meeting — Yoon simply made his announcement and left the room.

At 10:23 p.m., martial law was declared.

President Yoon Suk Yeol delivers an emergency special address declaring martial law at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, Dec. 3. Courtesy of the presidential office

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.