On Friday, a spokesperson from People Power Party Representative Yoon Sang Hyun’s office announced that Rep. Yoon plans to meet President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Seoul Detention Center, with Representative Kim Min Jeon joining the visit.
Since the December 3 martial law declaration, both lawmakers have advocated for President Yoon’s protection. Their upcoming conversation with the president has sparked considerable interest. Interestingly, Rep. Yoon—a five-term congressman from the metropolitan area—clashed with the pro-Yoon faction and the Yeongnam bloc within the party before the impeachment crisis. However, the state of emergency and subsequent impeachment proceedings have transformed him into a staunch defender of President Yoon.
When the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials attempted to arrest President Yoon, he led efforts to protect the president by guarding his Hanam-dong residence. Reports suggest he even entered the residence to speak with President Yoon moments before the arrest.
Rep. Yoon was also the sole ruling party member who visited the scene during the unrest at the Seoul Western District Court. He controversially appealed to the police for leniency toward protesters. He was notably photographed bowing deeply to Pastor Jeon Kwang Hoon of Sarang Jeil Church.
Emergency Committee Chairman Kwon Young Se, Floor Leader Kwon Seong Dong, and Representative Na Kyung Won met with President Yoon on Monday.
After the meeting, Na relayed the president’s words to reporters: “I couldn’t stand idly by as parliamentary tyranny, through serial impeachment attempts and budget cuts, paralyzed the government. As president, I acted out of a profound sense of duty.”
Despite criticism that President Yoon is engaging in “jailhouse politics,” ruling party lawmakers continue to plan visits to the detention center. In addition to Rep. Yoon and Kim, numerous party members who rallied at the Hanam-dong residence seek audiences with the president. The ruling party emphasizes that these visits are being made in a “personal capacity.”
On February 1, Chief Party Spokesman Kim Dae Sik told reporters at the National Assembly that while many lawmakers intend to visit personally, these are strictly individual visits.