Yoon Suk-yeol's sudden announcement of emergency financial measures... Turmoil in the presidential office [Comprehensive]

"I also learned about the situation by watching the news."

Choo Kyung-ho, the representative of the People Power Party, expressed his apologies to the people on the 4th regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's emergency financial measures announcement, stating, "I feel sorry for causing concern to the people due to a series of situations."

The emergency financial measures announcement by President Yoon Suk-yeol at 10:23 PM the previous night was rapidly spread to various participants in the presidential office just before the announcement.

The situation in the presidential office's anteroom became urgent after 9 PM that day.

Until this time, some participants in the presidential office were either leaving work or spending personal time, or working overtime in the office, unaware that President Yoon would make an announcement late at night.

Around 9:30 PM, rumors began to circulate that President Yoon would directly express his position on the Democratic Party's impeachment of the Prosecutor General and the budget cut proposal, leading to a rapid shift in atmosphere.

Some participants received an urgent call from President Yoon during dinner and quickly returned to the presidential office, but they were not aware of the emergency measures announcement, nor did they know that there would be an urgent discussion.

By 9:50 PM, it was known that a message was shared among broadcasters stating, "There will be an emergency government announcement, so please connect to the central control."

Although many reporters gathered in front of the briefing room inside the presidential office, they could not enter due to the locked doors.

The emergency financial measures announcement by President Yoon Suk-yeol began without any prior notice and proceeded in a full-scale manner.

In response, reporters in the presidential office had to urgently cover the emergency financial measures announcement by President Yoon Suk-yeol through broadcasting.

President Yoon delivered an urgent speech for about 6 minutes, announcing the emergency financial measures, then immediately left the office after preparing for the upcoming negotiations.

The presidential office did not express any position until 2 AM on the 4th, when the resolution to lift the measures passed in the National Assembly, and the internal turmoil in the presidential office was intensifying.

The security and defense of the presidential office were strengthened significantly after the emergency measures announcement.

Barricades were installed in front of the entrances to the presidential office and the Ministry of National Defense.

The movement towards the presidential office was also reported to be not free due to the control by the police and military.

The National Assembly held a plenary session convened by the Speaker of the National Assembly at 1 AM on the 4th and passed the resolution to lift the emergency financial measures.

The presidential office did not express any separate position after the resolution passed.

Han Dong-hoon, a representative of the People Power Party, stated, "As the ruling party, we deeply regret this situation," and added, "The resolution to lift the measures by the National Assembly has effectively nullified the emergency measures. Therefore, the military's exercise of public power in connection with the measures is illegal."

Reporter Lee Min-a, Hankyung.com, helper@hankyung.com