0
Former PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho holds a press briefing at the National Assembly in Seoul on September 4 about his party’s response during the December 3 emergency martial law. / Source: Song Ui-joo

Choo Kyung-ho, a lawmaker under investigation by a special counsel, rejected allegations on September 4 that he tried to obstruct a National Assembly vote to lift the December 3 emergency martial law. He argued he could not have known of the declaration in advance, citing his party’s decision—made a day earlier—to hold a mass rally on December 4 condemning the Democratic Party.

At a press briefing at the National Assembly, Choo said the People Power Party (PPP) resolved at a December 2 caucus to stage a “nationwide” rally with thousands of members outside the main Assembly building on December 4. “Pursuing such a large protest itself proves that no one in the PPP knew about the December 3 martial law,” he said.

Addressing why the caucus venue shifted that night, Choo said that at 11:02 p.m. a notice from party leader Han Dong-hoon’s office stated that access to the Assembly was being restricted and moved the top leadership meeting to party headquarters. In a group chat, members suggested changing the caucus venue as well, and at 11:09 p.m. the site was switched from the Assembly to party headquarters.

After being told that access controls had eased, Choo said he ordered the caucus moved back to the Assembly around 11:32 p.m. “When I entered the Assembly, full restrictions began around 11:37 p.m. Some lawmakers said they couldn’t get in and asked for new guidance. I then sent a message changing the venue back to party headquarters as a temporary gathering point,” he said, calling the decisions “reasonable” given the fluid situation.

On his calls with former President Yoon Suk-yeol, former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, and senior presidential staff, Choo said, “The president briefly explained a statement and apologized for not informing the ruling party floor leader in advance.” Contrary to some claims, he said, he changed the caucus venue back to the Assembly and headed there after speaking with Yoon. He added that his calls with Han and Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho did not touch on the vote, only general concerns about the situation.

Responding to reports that he phoned National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik to “buy time,” Choo insisted Woo called him first. He said he sought a media correction over stories that he asked for a “30-minute delay,” and that was accepted by the Press Arbitration Commission. “Many of our lawmakers couldn’t enter due to access controls and were at party headquarters, so I asked the speaker to allow them in,” he said. “But he replied the quorum was already secured and told us to ask the police, then hung up.”

Choo argued the Democratic Party, with 192 seats at the time, could pass measures on its own. He said the resolution to lift martial law was handled “normally” by the speaker without obstruction from PPP lawmakers, all of which is visible in live media and YouTube footage. “Even so, the Democratic Party is deceiving the public by imposing a false frame,” he said.