SEOUL: The chief of South Korea's National Police Agency (NPA) has reportedly stated that President Yoon Suk Yeol called him six times to demand the arrest of lawmakers during a brief period of martial law last week. The claim was revealed during the questioning of Cho Ji-ho, the commissioner general of the NPA, who was arrested over his involvement in the martial law operations.According to Yonhap News Agency, Cho Ji-ho recounted during police questioning that he received multiple phone calls from President Yoon following the declaration of martial law on December 3. However, Cho stated that he did not relay the president's orders to arrest lawmakers to the officers on the front lines.Cho also reportedly claimed that Counterintelligence Commander Lt. Gen. Yeo In-hyung requested the deployment of 100 investigators and the tracking of 15 individuals, including leaders of both the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party. Cho allegedly instructed his subordinates to ignore this req uest.Martial law was lifted on December 4, just six hours after its imposition. Cho is said to have expressed regret to President Yoon over the phone about the abrupt end to the martial law, to which Yoon reportedly replied, "Thanks to you, it ended quickly."
- September 13, 2026
