President Yoon Suk Yeol’s close confidant and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun wrote from prison, calling for three Constitutional Court justices to be punished, in a letter that was revealed in front of Yoon supporters at a rally Saturday.
Kim’s choice of words quickly became the focus of attention: The word literally translates as "punish," but carries harsher implications. The same expression was used in the martial law declaration’s Decree No. 1.
The detained ex-Minister's handwritten letter was read by his legal representative Lee Myung-kyu, who was at the scene with some 65,000 protesters who had gathered in support of the impeached and suspended president.
“There is no doubt that the impeachment of Yoon must be dismissed, as illegal and unconstitutional things have surfaced during the trial process,” Lee read from Kim’s letter.
“The president must return to his position. This way, the citizens’ safety is guaranteed, as well as the next generation’s safety and lives, along with the sustainable prosperity of the country,” he added.
Kim, who was arrested soon after Yoon’s short-lived martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024, was indicted under detention on Dec. 27 on charges of insurrection for his alleged role and abusing his power to engage in essential activities for the martial law attempt.
Under Yoon, Kim served as his first chief of the Presidential Security Service, until he was appointed as defense minister in September last year.
In the letter, Kim urged protesters to chant demands from his letter: First, the Constitutional Court should unanimously dismiss Yoon’s impeachment; second, if dismissal is difficult, return the impeachment motion back to the National Assembly; third, punish Justices Moon Hyung-bae, Lee Mi-son and Chung Kye-sun, who led unlawful trials.
Kim’s use of the word “punish” was also used in the martial law decree, in reference to protesting doctors.
Decree No. 1, which Kim admitted to having drafted at Yoon's trial, mentions that “all medical workforce who are on a strike, including resident doctors, must return to their roles within 48 hours and, if not, they must be eliminated.”
The quoted portion was to address the ongoing conflict between the medical community and the government, stoked by the latter’s plan to expand domestic medical school admissions leading to long-running disputes across medical sectors, contributing to doctor shortages in emergency rooms.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea criticized Kim’s letter as political propaganda.
“Kim’s message from prison is an instigation to disrupt the country’s constitutional order and democracy. Calling out the names of the judges to ‘eliminate’ gives us a surge of anger at his shamelessness,” said Democratic Party Speaker Hwang Jung-a in a statement.
“He is nothing different from Yoon, who regards anyone who criticizes him as an anti-government force and someone to be eliminated,” she added.
During Saturday's rally, Yoon's lawyer and friend of 40 years Suk Dong-hyun also delivered a message from the president.
The 11 formal hearings of Yoon's impeachment trial concluded last week. He currently awaits the court's verdict from prison.
“I met with the president this morning. He told me to deliver the message that he is doing well there, giving me a face of gratitude,” Suk told supporters.
Suk added that the president's supporters must protect Yoon “until the end,” so he is not impeached again due to fake news, fact distortion and political maneuvering.
In previous letters from prison, Yoon has referred to his supporters as “patriotic citizens,” adding he has been watching YouTube videos of their “assiduous efforts.”
ddd@heraldcorp.com
