On the 19th, the special investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Jo Eun-seok investigating the internal and external turmoil related to the 'Dec. 3 Martial Law' summoned former Minister of Foreign Affairs Jo Tae-yeol. The special investigation team believes that former President Yoon Suk-yeol summoned only some commissioners to the Cabinet meeting before the martial law proclamation, hindering the deliberation and voting rights of the remaining commissioners.
The special investigation team stated through a media notice that 'we are investigating former Minister Jo.' The special investigation team is known to have summoned former Minister Jo as a witness to confirm the situation of the Cabinet meeting held before and after the martial law on Dec. 3 last year.
Former Minister Jo learned of the martial law proclamation when he entered the presidential office at the call of former President Yoon on the day of the proclamation and has been reported to have strongly opposed it.
The special investigation team plans to confirm the circumstances under which the deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs distributed a press guidance (PG) to foreign reporters on Dec. 5 of last year, informing them of the legitimacy of the martial law.
The special investigation team is investigating the charge of abuse of power, as former President Yoon directed that the false PG stating, 'There was no intention to undermine the constitutional order,' be disseminated to the media through then-presidential office foreign affairs spokesperson Huh Tae-won, and sent a PG to the deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be delivered to foreign reporters.
In connection with this, former Minister Jo stated in previous prosecutor investigations that 'he did not know such a PG was distributed,' indicating that he believed it was the deputy spokesperson's independent action.
The special investigation team has recently conducted investigations not only with former Prime Minister Han but also with Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Ahn Duk-geun, Minister of Science and ICT Yoo Sang-im, and Minister of Education Lee Joo-ho, who did not attend the Cabinet meeting, as well as officials from the presidential office, including former Chief of Civil Affairs Kim Joo-hyun.