Han Dong-hoon says he rallied lawmakers and headed to National Assembly on night of martial law declaration

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon said he would "firmly respond to false incitement" after being identified as the person who first directed People Power Party lawmakers to gather at the party headquarters on the night of the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration.

Han said on his social media account Thursday that immediately after the martial law declaration on Dec. 3, he had announced his opposition to it and tried to go directly to the National Assembly, but headed to the party headquarters first after finding the Assembly was blocked. His book, "The People Come First," details on page 32 how he gathered lawmakers at the party headquarters before proceeding to the National Assembly, he added.

"I will firmly respond to false incitement — such as claims that the book contains no such account," Han said. "This kind of false incitement helps no one."

People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo testified Wednesday at a hearing of Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Division 34, presided over by Judge Han Seong-jin, in the trial of Daegu Mayor Choo Kyung-ho on charges of playing a key role in insurrection. Ahn testified that it was then-PPP leader Han Dong-hoon who first directed party lawmakers to gather at the party headquarters rather than the National Assembly.

Ahn also said his failure to participate in the National Assembly's vote to lift martial law was due to police blocking entry to the Assembly, not interference by the party.

Earlier, speaking to reporters at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, Han addressed Ahn's testimony, saying, "There should be no attempt to distort objective facts just because time has passed." He said Ahn appeared to be referring to a temporary stop at the party headquarters around 11 p.m., when the Assembly was blocked.

Han added: "If you look at Ahn's own social media, he wrote that he came to the National Assembly around 12:10 a.m. but could not get in. It seems he is distorting what happened at 11 p.m. by framing it as something that occurred at midnight."

"I will not comment on every political move he makes, but distorting the facts of what happened that day cannot be tolerated," Han said. "This is not a matter of one individual but a matter of history, and I intend to respond firmly to any attempt at distortion."