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Former Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun answers questions from lawmakers during a National Assembly hearing on February 4, as part of the special parliamentary probe into alleged martial-law conspiracy under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration. / Source: Yonhap News

Former Special Warfare Commander Kwak Jong-geun testified on November 3 that former President Yoon Suk Yeol once said he would “shoot Han Dong-hoon to death” and ordered that the then-People Power Party leader and certain politicians be brought before him. Yoon’s side immediately rejected the testimony, calling it “completely false and unheard of.”

The 27th trial session of Yoon’s case — involving charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power — was held at the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25, presided over by Judge Ji Gui-yeon.

Facing Yoon in court, Kwak repeated earlier claims that during the period of martial law, Yoon had instructed him to “drag lawmakers out of the National Assembly.”

Kwak testified that “after the Armed Forces Day ceremony on October 1 last year, a dinner was held at the presidential residence, organized by then-President Yoon,” adding that the discussion included talk of emergency powers. The dinner was attended by then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, former Defense Intelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung, and former Capital Defense Commander Lee Jin-woo.

Yoon countered that the event was merely a casual dinner for military commanders. “I just invited a few people for dinner after the ceremony. The minister said most had to return to their bases, so only those in Seoul came,” he said, asking Kwak if it was truly a “planned” meeting. Kwak replied, “No. I was told in advance by Yeo In-hyung to bring civilian clothes, so I changed and went.”

When Yoon suggested it was a light social gathering, Kwak responded, “I will now speak about what I couldn’t before,” claiming, “Yoon mentioned Han Dong-hoon by name and called for some politicians to be brought before him, saying, ‘I’ll shoot him to death if I have to.’”

Kwak added, “Since the former president has directly addressed me today, I feel compelled to say it. I recall him talking about emergency powers at that time. I won’t say more.”

Yoon reportedly smiled at the remark, and his legal team commented, “He’s introducing new claims now. It’s unclear why he never mentioned this to investigators before.”

Later, Yoon’s attorneys issued a formal statement: “Kwak’s claims are completely untrue. The former president never made such remarks,” they said. “When asked directly, Yoon repeatedly said, ‘Why would I order Han Dong-hoon’s arrest? That makes no sense.’ Kwak’s testimony has been inconsistent and frequently changed.”