The South Korean army general who was put in charge of a sudden declaration of martial law told parliament on Thursday that he had only learnt about the move after President Yoon Suk Yeol announced it on national television.
Park Ahn-soo, South Korea’s army general and martial law commander, was one of a number of defence officials questioned by lawmakers as they started efforts to impeach the president and investigate the shortlived imposition of martial law. The emergency decree was issued in Park’s name.
“I found out about the martial law declaration watching Yoon’s press conference,” General Park said, adding that defence minister Kim Yong-hyun “orchestrated the military moves” after the president’s declaration.