Seoul: A special counsel team has filed for a court warrant to arrest former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo over allegations of his involvement in ex-President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to impose martial law.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the request was made by Special Counsel Cho Eun-suk's team based on six criminal allegations. These include accusations of Han aiding Yoon's efforts to impose martial law on December 3 of the previous year.
Han, as the second-in-command to Yoon, is accused of not preventing the martial law declaration, with Cho's team suspecting him as a key accomplice. Additionally, Han is believed to have participated in drafting and destroying a revised version of the decree after martial law was lifted. Furthermore, he is accused of providing false testimony under oath during a National Assembly session in February.
This marks the first instance in South Korea's constitutional history where an arrest warrant has been sought against a former prime minister. The special counsel team emphasized Han's failure to prevent the imposition of martial law as a critical factor in their decision to seek his arrest.
Assistant Special Counsel Park Ji-young highlighted Han's constitutionally significant role as the prime minister, stating he was in a position to prevent the unconstitutional imposition of martial law. Park also mentioned concerns over Han potentially destroying evidence and being a flight risk as reasons for seeking the warrant.
A court hearing to review the warrant is anticipated to occur on Tuesday or Wednesday. Han's involvement in Cabinet meetings discussing the martial law decree and subsequent events has placed him at the center of the investigation.
Han initially claimed ignorance of the decree until after martial law was lifted, but recently admitted to receiving it from Yoon, contradicting his earlier testimony. If the arrest warrant is issued, the investigation may extend to other Cabinet members, including former Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, who reportedly received a memo from Yoon regarding a budget for an emergency legislative body.
Han is also under suspicion of attempting to interfere with the National Assembly's vote on lifting martial law through communications with Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, the floor leader of the then ruling People Power Party. The special counsel team is exploring allegations that Choo sought to disrupt participation in the vote at Yoon's behest.