Seoul: Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun on Thursday downplayed allegations implicating President Yoon Suk Yeol in his short-lived imposition of martial law, speaking as a witness for the president during his impeachment trial. Kim, who is being held at a detention center for his alleged role in the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, appeared at the Constitutional Court to testify during the trial's fourth hearing, which was also attended by Yoon. When asked by Yoon's legal team whether it was true that Yoon ordered the mobilization of a "small number" of troops against Kim's advice to mobilize up to 60,000 in order to enforce martial law, Kim replied, "Yes."

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kim stated, "It was different from my thinking but because it was President Yoon's order, I respected it and prepared for it." He added that he had doubts about the feasibility of enforcing martial law and questioned Yoon on whether the situation truly warranted martial law. Kim is accused of recommending martial law to Yoon and drafting the decree. However, he refuted claims that Yoon ordered troops to storm the National Assembly building to prevent lawmakers from voting against the decree, asserting that Yoon intended for troops to monitor anyone trying to disrupt order and to allow selective entry.

Kim further claimed that he initially ordered troops to the main opposition Democratic Party headquarters and a polling agency but retracted the plan following Yoon's orders. He also mentioned that Yoon objected to a curfew mentioned in the draft decree due to the inconvenience it would cause to the public, leading Kim to delete that part of the decree. Additionally, Kim acknowledged directing a note to Finance Minister and current acting President Choi Sang-mok, instructing him to form an "emergency legislative body" on the day martial law was declared. He clarified that the note originated from one of his staff members and was not written by Yoon.

Yoon is currently held at a different detention center after a Seoul court issued a warrant for his formal arrest. This was his second appearance at the trial, having been transported from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, located south of the capital. During a previous hearing, Yoon denied ordering troops to remove lawmakers from the National Assembly during the martial law attempt. His legal team has indicated that Yoon will attend all remaining hearings if circumstances allow.