Kim Yong-tae, who testified as a witness, says he thought 'Yoon had lost his mind' after seeing a military helicopter on the day Martial Law was declared

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\r[The Financial News] PPP lawmaker Kim Yong-tae appeared as a witness and testified in the trial of fellow party member Choo Kyung-ho, who was sent to trial on charges related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's Dec. 3 declaration of Martial Law.
According to the legal community on the 18th, Criminal Division 34 of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Sung-Jin Han, held a hearing the previous day in the case against Choo, who is accused of engaging in important duties related to insurrection.
Kim appeared as a witness that day. He was one of the lawmakers who voted in favor of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea's Resolution Demanding Lifting of Martial Law during the Martial Law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024.
Kim described the atmosphere at the time, saying, "PPP lawmakers were also saying, 'The president has lost his mind,' 'He made the wrong judgment,' and 'Shouldn't we lift Martial Law quickly?'"
He also said he believed Choo would not have known in advance about Yoon's Martial Law declaration. Kim said, "(Choo) is someone who spent a long time in the bureaucracy," adding, "I do not think he knew about the declaration in advance." He continued, "Even if Choo had known beforehand, there would have been no benefit in supporting Martial Law," stressing, "I think he would naturally not have sided with it."
Before entering the courtroom that day, Kim also told reporters, "Martial Law, which tried to solve a political problem by mobilizing the military, was the worst and most reckless choice."
Meanwhile, Shin Dong-wook, who did not take part in the vote at the time but was then the PPP's chief floor spokesperson, also appeared as a witness. Like Kim, Shin stressed that Choo would not have received instructions from Yoon. Shin testified, "If he had received instructions from the president, it would have been visible in Choo's expression," adding, "But even after the call with Yoon, Choo still looked quite flustered." Shin also said Choo made remarks to the effect of, "I do not really know either" and "I am sorry I could not tell you."
Choo is accused of obstructing other lawmakers from taking part in the vote to lift Martial Law by repeatedly changing the location of a party caucus meeting at the request of Yoon's side after Martial Law was declared on Dec. 3, 2024.
At the time, Choo, who was the floor leader, announced an emergency caucus meeting immediately after the declaration of Martial Law and changed the venue three times, alternating between the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea and the party headquarters. As a result, many PPP lawmakers were unable to attend the vote on lifting Martial Law. The resolution passed with 190 votes in favor, as 90 of the party's 108 lawmakers did not attend. The special prosecutor team concluded that Choo received a call from Yoon shortly after Martial Law was declared, asking him to cooperate with Martial Law, and then tried to prevent PPP lawmakers from joining the vote to lift it. The team said he repeatedly changed the caucus venue even though Han Dong-hoon, then the party leader, had requested that lawmakers gather in the plenary chamber.
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theknight@fnnews.com Jung Kyung-soo Reporter