ISTANBUL
South Korea’s election body on Friday sharply criticized President Yoon Suk Yeol over a military raid that occurred during the brief martial law he declared last week.
The National Election Commission (NEC) Secretary General Kim Yong-bin testified before the Public Administration and Security Committee at the parliament complex in Yeouido district, Seoul, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily.
In addition to the parliamentary session, Yoon ordered soldiers to raid the NEC offices on the night of Dec. 3 after he declared martial law, which was lifted within six hours.
Yoon, in his public address on Thursday, claimed that the election body had been targeted by North Korean hacking attacks but had “stubbornly refused to inspect its systems.”
“This is utterly incomprehensible,” Kim told lawmakers, rejecting Yoon’s claims.
The president’s move to impose martial law came as a surprise, with Yoon stating that the parliament was “paralyzed by anti-state North Korean Communist forces.”
Elected in 2022 for a five-year term, Yoon has faced growing frustration due to parliament’s legislative gridlock after the ruling People Power Party lost its majority in the April general elections.
Kim added, “The president’s recent statement makes it clear that the unconstitutional and illegal actions of martial law troops occupying National Election Commission offices and attempting to seize servers were without any legal basis.”
“This is tantamount to self-denial regarding the very election management system through which he was elected president,” the commission said in a statement.
Yoon had secured 48.56% of the vote in 2022, narrowly defeating Lee Jae-myung, the candidate from the main opposition Democratic Party.
While the ruling party has suggested preparing a roadmap for Yoon’s early resignation, the president remains resolute, declaring that he will “fight till the end.”
At 63, Yoon is facing a potential second impeachment vote on Saturday, following his unsuccessful attempt to impose martial law.
