In the early hours of December 4, following the National Assembly’s decision to lift the martial law, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol held a meeting in the Ministry of National Defense’s underground Decision Support Room (Decision Room) with Deputy National Security Adviser In Sung Hwan and Defense Secretary Choi Byung Ok, as confirmed on Thursday. It was also reported that Chief of Staff Jeong Jin Seok and National Security Director Shin Won Sik briefly visited the Joint Chiefs of Staff, leading to suspicions that they may have discussed the possibility of a second martial law declaration.
According to reports from the ruling party and South Korea’s SBS, after the National Assembly voted to lift martial law on Thursday, Yoon met with former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun and Martial Law Commander Park An Su in the Decision Support Room. Deputy National Security Adviser In Sung Hwan and Defense Secretary Choi Byung Ok were also present. Both In and Choi graduated from the prestigious Korea Military Academy.
The Ministry of National Defense’s Combat Operations Control Room is where South Korea’s military leadership, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman, oversees operations for the armed forces. Following the initial martial law declaration on December 3, a martial law command center was established, with the Decision Support Room functioning as a secure facility within this command center. This room is used by military leadership to discuss critical decisions related to national security and other high-priority issues.
Particularly noteworthy is that while President Yoon was in the Decision Support Room, it was reported that Chief of Staff Jeong Jin Seok and National Security Advisor Shin Won Sik also visited the Ministry of National Defense’s underground facility. Until now, the whereabouts of key presidential aides during the martial law had remained unclear. This marks the first time it has been revealed that several presidential aides attended the meeting, fueling speculation about their involvement in a possible second martial law declaration.
In response to the growing speculation, the presidential office clarified that these individuals simply accompanied the president as part of his official duties. They emphasized that the claims about a second martial law declaration were unfounded.
A senior official from the presidential office stated, “After the National Assembly passed the resolution to lift the martial law, the Deputy National Security Advisor and the Defense Secretary were with the president as part of routine duties during his visit to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. After that, the Chief of Staff and the National Security Advisor briefly stayed for a few minutes to accompany the president while he oversaw lifting the emergency decree. The claim about discussions on a second martial law declaration is completely false.”