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John Linton, who also goes by the name Ihn Yo-han, departs from the National Assembly’s press halls after announcing his resignation as a lawmaker for the conservative People Power Party. (Yonhap)

After stepping down as a People Power Party lawmaker last month, John Linton said Monday that he felt “gravely disappointed and ashamed at everything that has been disclosed in the year following the martial law declaration.” 

In a video posted to his YouTube channel, Linton, better known as Ihn Yo-han in Korea, congratulated Rep. Lee So-hee for succeeding him in his proportional representative seat following his resignation. 

In the video, the former lawmaker and naturalized Korean citizen revealed his thoughts on former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, 2024, and on the People Power Party’s situation since that fateful night.
 
“When martial law was declared a year ago, I believed that there was a national crisis that the president could not fully disclose to the public. I thought that an attack from North Korea was involved or that we were facing a situation that the nation was not capable of handling by itself. I thought there must have been a compelling and urgent reason for the leader of the nation to make that declaration,” Linton wrote.  
 
“As someone who was labeled as an instigator and scrutinized by the police for three years following the May 18 Democratization Movement [in 1980] after interpreting for foreign correspondents, I only know too well how horrific a wrongful declaration of martial law can be,” he added.
 
“There is nothing different in loving your country as a proud citizen and loving your country as a lawmaker. I am a failed lawmaker. However, I loved South Korea when I was still in parliament, and I still love it today, as an ordinary citizen,” he said. 
 
Linton began his political career after being elected as a proportional representative in the April 2024 general election. 

On Dec. 10, 2025, approximately one year after the Dec. 3 martial law declaration, he announced his decision to step down as a lawmaker with a statement. 

“The unfortunate developments that have continued over the last year since the Yoon Suk-yeol administration’s martial law declaration are something that needs to be overcome for the sake of the Republic of Korea’s future,” he said at the time. “The only way national unity can be achieved is when we leave behind black-and-white bloc logic. There is no change without sacrifice. I want to start by setting aside all vested interests and returning to my profession to contribute to national unity and national development.”
 
Linton’s resignation was made official on Friday. Lee So-hee, an attorney who was next in line on the party list, filled Linton’s seat in the National Assembly, beginning her term on the same day.

By Kim Hae-jeong, staff reporter

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