Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo appeared on the 19th for a second summons investigation by the special investigation team regarding insurrection. Han is accused of aiding and abetting the declaration of martial law on Dec. 3.
On that day, Han arrived at the Seoul High Prosecutor's Office, where the special investigation team is located, around 9:25 a.m.
When reporters asked, "Are you still maintaining that you did not participate in or support the insurrection?", "What is your stance on the report that CCTV captured you gathering the martial law documents?", and "What details did you discuss with People Power Party lawmaker Choo Kyung-ho immediately after the martial law was declared?", Han simply replied, "You have worked hard," before entering the Seoul High Prosecutor's Office.
The special investigation team considers Han a suspect related to important tasks connected to insurrection and perjury. That day, the special investigation team planned to investigate suspicions that Han participated in or aided the declaration of martial law by former President Yoon Suk-yeol on Dec. 3 last year.
Earlier, Park Ji-young, the deputy chief investigator, stated during a press briefing on the 18th, "It is expected that we will primarily investigate how the role and constitutional duties of the Prime Minister, who is the president's chief advisory body, the vice chair of the State Council, and a constitutional body, can be linked to criminal responsibility before and after the declaration or repeal of martial law."
According to the Constitution and the Government Organization Act, the Prime Minister manages the administrative departments at the direction of the President and supervises the heads of administrative agencies. The Prime Minister also serves as the vice chair of the State Council.
Han is also suspected of being involved in the process in which a new martial law declaration document was drafted and then discarded after former President Yoon declared martial law. It is reported that Han, after signing the document created by former Presidential Secretary General Kang Yi-gu post-martial law, requested days later that it be disregarded, stating, "There could be controversy if the fact of post-event document creation becomes known." Subsequently, the document was ultimately discarded.
This is the second time the special investigation team has summoned Han as a suspect for questioning. Previously, the team conducted a first summons investigation of Han for about 13 hours and 40 minutes on July 2. On the 24th of the same month, the special investigation team searched Han's home.