Seoul: A special counsel team has indicted former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on charges of abetting a failed attempt by former President Yoon Suk Yeol to impose martial law. Han has been charged without physical detention for his alleged involvement in the insurrection, including perjury, falsifying and destroying official documents, among other offenses.
According to Yonhap News Agency, assistant special counsel Park Ji-young emphasized in a briefing that Han, as the highest constitutional authority at the time, failed to prevent the president's unconstitutional actions. Instead, Han is accused of taking steps to lend procedural legitimacy to the martial law attempt, despite being aware of the potential violation of citizens' basic rights and the constitutional order.
The special counsel, led by Cho Eun-suk, argues that Han neglected his duties as prime minister by not restraining the former president. Cho's team claims Han participated in Yoon's martial law bid on December 3 by suggesting a Cabinet meeting prior to the law's declaration. The indictment further alleges that Han was more concerned with achieving quorum for the meeting rather than critically evaluating the decree with other Cabinet members.
Additionally, Han is suspected of being involved in drafting and subsequently destroying a revised proclamation designed to bolster the decree's legitimacy. It is alleged that he signed the document after martial law was lifted but later advocated for its disposal due to potential repercussions regarding its timing.
Han is also accused of providing false testimony under oath at the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly, denying knowledge of the martial law declaration until after its lift. Park noted that Han's actions indicate he believed in the success of Yoon's martial law plan.
The indictment follows closely on the heels of a Seoul court's decision to reject a warrant for Han's arrest, citing minimal risk of flight or evidence tampering, and acknowledging "room for dispute regarding legal assessments of key facts." Meanwhile, other former Cabinet members, including former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min and former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, have been indicted and detained for their alleged involvement in the martial law scheme.
Former President Yoon is currently standing trial on charges of leading an insurrection and abusing power through the brief imposition of martial law. He remains in custody at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, just south of Seoul.