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| ▲ The National Assembly's special committee investigating President Yoon Suk Yeol's insurrection charges holds a meeting without former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center in eastern Seoul on Feb. 5, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) |
special committee-hearing
Former defense minister refuses on-site parliamentary hearing over Yoon's martial law bid
SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Yonhap) -- A special parliamentary committee investigating President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law bid failed Wednesday to hold an on-site hearing at a detention center against former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun as he refused its request to attend.
Kim, now arrested and indicted for charges of insurrection related to Yoon's Dec. 3 brief martial law bid, did not appear for a parliamentary hearing at the Seoul Dongbu Detention Center in eastern Seoul, according to Rep. Han Byung-do, who represents the main opposition Democratic Party at the committee.
"To ease concerns about the on-site investigation, we even agreed to hold the hearing privately and limit the number of attendees to five," Han told reporters.
Kim is said to have refused to appear for the hearing, citing the need to prepare for his trial and meet with his legal team.
The ruling People Power Party boycotted the on-site investigation in protest of Yoon being selected as a witness.
Members of the committee also visited the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, south of the capital, later in the day to hold a similar hearing against Yoon. The outcome of their visits is not immediately known.
They will also visit a detention center of the Capital Defense Command to meet with Yeo In-hyung, former head of the Defense Counterintelligence Command.
Yeo allegedly received orders from Kim to arrest and detain opposition leader Lee Jae-myung and then ruling party leader Han Dong-hoon, among others, during the martial law imposition.
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