Seoul: The insurrection trial of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo will be held once a week starting later this month, a court said Tuesday. Han has been indicted on charges of abetting former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law imposition in December, perjury, falsifying and destroying official documents, and other offenses.
According to Yonhap News Agency, during the first pretrial hearing at the Seoul Central District Court on Tuesday, the bench announced that the formal trial will begin on September 30 and proceed swiftly with one hearing every Monday. The initial hearing will focus on examining surveillance camera footage from the presidential office on the day martial law was declared on December 3.
Before the declaration of martial law, Yoon reportedly convened a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office, allegedly at Han's suggestion. The footage in question allegedly shows Han gathering documents printed with the martial law declaration and Yoon's address to the nation from the meeting room. It also reportedly captures Han checking the quorum for the Cabinet meeting by counting with his hand and conferring with then Interior Minister Lee Sang-min after the meeting concluded.
The indictment against Han accuses him of drafting a revised proclamation after December 3 with the purpose of enhancing the legitimacy of the decree, which he later allegedly destroyed. He is also accused of lying under oath at the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly, claiming he was unaware that Yoon had given him a copy of the martial law declaration until after the decree was revoked.
Han was not present at Tuesday's pretrial hearing as his attendance was not required.