Korean media reported that former President Yoon Seok-yue told the ruling party on the 20th: "I hope we will stop destroying democracy and look back at the lives of the people."
In a position paper released by the defense team on the same day, former President Yoon argued that the accused civil unrest leader was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first instance: "From the investigation to the special inspection to the second special inspection, how many people are going to be purged and the national security completely destroyed?"
Former President Yoon said: "I believe that our great citizens will once again seek justice under the banner of liberal democracy." "Our struggle is not over yet. We must unite and fight."
The following is the full text of former President Yoon’s position:
Dear citizens:
In declaring emergency martial law on December 3, my judgment and decision are entirely for the country and the people. Its sincerity and purpose remain unchanged to this day.
However, those forces that frame the decision to save the country as civil strife and try to go beyond the political offensive and use it as an opportunity to purge and eradicate the opposition will become more rampant in the future. It was originally a decision to save the country, but due to my shortcomings, all citizens ended up experiencing many setbacks and hardships, for which I deeply apologize.
The judiciary has failed to completely exclude false and inflammatory political power. It is a blessing that the novels and delusions of the special prosecutor claiming that I had failed to create conditions for long-term rule and declared emergency martial law were not adopted. However, even if you admit my sincerity, the logic of declaring it civil unrest simply because the military went to Congress is unconvincing.
I deeply doubt the point of engaging in legal battles through appeals when the independence of the judiciary cannot be guaranteed and it is difficult to expect a verdict based on law and conscience. I look forward to re-evaluating my judgment and decision when liberal democracy in the Republic of Korea is firmly established and legalism is truly established.
Today, I no longer care about the judiciary’s oppression of my established conclusions and political power. However, the reality that many soldiers, police officers, and public officials are in trouble due to investigations and trials, and that their families are also suffering from pain and setbacks, is really heartbreaking. The entire responsibility for the decision-making process rests with me. Please stop subjecting them to more severe trials and oppression. Political revenge is enough against me alone. From investigation to special inspection to the second special inspection, how many people will be purged to completely destroy national security?
I hope that we will stop destroying democracy and look back at the lives of the people.
I, Yin Xiyue, will take a breather from the trial in the square and take all the responsibility. But I believe that our great citizens will once again seek justice under the banner of liberal democracy.
Our fight is not over yet. We must unite and fight.
I pray that the Republic of Korea can be rebuilt not with defeat but with progress filled with hope.
