A collective resignation of the presidential staff...Discussion on Cabinet Resignation in the afternoon

Including all three chiefs and senior secretaries...Decision on morning meeting
"Chief meeting presided over by Jeong Jin-seok, proceeding in a gloomy atmosphere"
"Chief Jeong Jin-seok seems to have proposed a collective plan for his future."

[Anchor]
In the presidential office, senior staff, including Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok, expressed their resignation this morning (4th).

At 2 p.m., Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, the President's Office, and the People's Power are expected to meet behind closed doors to discuss the resignation of the Cabinet. Reporter Kang Min-kyung!

Let's start with the news of the staff.

High-level aides in the presidential office expressed their resignation, right?

[Reporter]
That's right. The presidential office said that the chief and senior secretaries offered to resign at around 9:30 a.m. today.

Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok and Chief of Policy Seong Tae-yoon, as well as Chief of National Security Shin Won-sik, are included.

Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Chul-ho and Senior Secretary for Public Relations Lee Do-woon seem to be the same.

Earlier today at 8 a.m., Director Jeong Jin-seok reportedly presided over a meeting with senior secretaries that normally took place.

It is said that the meeting was held in a rather gloomy atmosphere.

Chief Jeong is known to have told his staff to consider the issue of his future here collectively.

[Anchor]
Did the staff immediately accept the suggestion?

And if I resign, will the resignation be repaired immediately?

[Reporter]
Most of the senior secretaries seem to have agreed with the resignation.

It remains to be seen whether it will be repaired or not, but the biggest variable is the National Assembly.

This is because if the presidential impeachment bill is handled in the National Assembly, there are practical matters to be dealt with.

Some point out that it is not a matter that will end with a resignation.This is because it is a matter that can be held accountable for failing to properly assist as a staff, such as failing to prevent President

Yoon from declaring martial law.

If they were not notified in advance, questions surrounding why they did not communicate with the president are likely to arise.

However, there is also news that Prime Minister Han, the leadership of the People's Power, and the staff of the President's Office have decided to meet at the Prime Minister's Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at 2 p.m. shortly.

Taken together, high-level aides in the presidential office are expected to move with the government's cabinet to settle the chaotic situation until the resignation is accepted.

[Anchor]
Has there been any news from the presidential office since the resignation of the staff?

[Reporter]
We don't have one yet.

All of the high-level staff who have expressed their resignation have not been contacted by reporters.

As the situation is, it is presumed that there is no room for media response.

Reflecting this atmosphere, the atmosphere of the presidential office here, where I am, is also somber and solemn.

[Anchor]
Then, please tell us the current atmosphere of the presidential office.

I also hear that the vigilance has become stronger.

[Reporter]
Yes, the presidential office here was very chaotic at the time of the declaration of the emergency martial law last night, with reporters restricting access.

Currently, the situation has been sorted out, but the boundaries around Yongsan itself are still tight.

In fact, when I entered the presidential office, I checked both the front and back of the pass, and the identification process became stricter.

However, the administrative operation of the presidential office itself is not paralyzed.

It is no different from usual, operating auxiliary facilities such as cafeteria and canteen, and administrators are working normally.

However, the overall atmosphere is the atmosphere of saving words in gloom.

Multiple employees who met in the hallway repeatedly said, "I have nothing to say right now," avoiding contact with reporters overall.

[Anchor]
This time, let's look at the presidential office's response to the political situation.

Reporter Kang, the opposition party is officially calling for the resignation of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

There's no response from President Yoon or the president's office to this yet, right?

[Reporter]
Yes, there is no proper movement.

As the issue of resignation is very important, all the staff at the end of the presidential office seem to be reticent.

However, given the current situation, even if the presidential office makes an additional position, it is likely to respond immediately, that is, responding as soon as the situation becomes, rather than announcing it to reporters in advance.

There is no further movement by Yoon Suk Yeol's president yet.

Earlier, President Yoon suddenly declared both martial law declaration and lifting statements in a briefing room without a press corps, without prior notice.

As such, we also need to respond to whether President Yoon will make an additional position in real time.

[Anchor]
I heard that President Yoon postponed his public schedule today.

The Swedish prime minister's visit to Korea scheduled for this week has also been delayed?

[Reporter]
That's right. The Swedish prime minister's visit to Korea, which was originally scheduled from tomorrow to the 7th, was canceled.

Prime Minister Wolf Christersson told reporters during his visit to Tokyo, Japan, that it was not appropriate to visit South Korea under the current circumstances.

As a result, the schedule for bilateral talks between Korea and Sweden is expected to be delayed.

Earlier, President Yoon said in his declaration of emergency martial law that there is no change in the foreign policy stance that the Republic of Korea fulfills its responsibilities and contributions in the international community.

As diplomatic schedule disruptions become visible, the aftermath on this part is expected to be inevitable in the future.In addition, President

Yoon has suspended all public schedules, including a drug response inspection meeting that he had scheduled before the declaration of the emergency martial law.

[Anchor]
Lastly, it's a matter that viewers are very curious about, so I'm going to point it out in terms of organization.

Was the Cabinet meeting held before the President of Yoon Suk Yeol declared emergency martial law?

This is a matter that can be directly connected to the issue of procedural legitimacy.

[Reporter]
Yes. First of all, it has been confirmed that President Yoon Suk Yeol convened a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office in Yongsan before declaring an emergency martial law last night.

So far, two members of the State Council have been officially confirmed to attend, including Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who proposed emergency martial law, and Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Minister Song Mi-ryeong.

The rest of the attendees have not been confirmed.

As the opposition party claims, the ministers, the State Council members, are reluctant to confirm whether they will attend or not.

To sum up the stories of the reporters, it seems that the members of the State Council who attended the Cabinet meeting also did not know that the agenda was a declaration of martial law.It is also heard that many of the members of the State Council objected shortly after President

Yoon announced this.

However, it seems that President Yoon pushed for the declaration of martial law with a firm will, as the Cabinet meeting is only subject to deliberation and is not a place where the pros and cons vote takes place.

I'm Kang Min-kyung of YTN in the presidential office in Yongsan.