The special investigation team stated on the 20th that it plans to conduct a third summons investigation of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on the 22nd. Former Prime Minister Han is facing allegations of aiding and abetting the emergency martial law declared on Dec. 3.
Special investigator Park Ji-young said during a press briefing that morning, "We requested an additional summons for former Prime Minister Han on Friday (22nd) at 9:30 a.m." and noted, "Since the matters we wanted to investigate the day before (19th) were not completed, an additional investigation is unavoidable."
Park said, "In the third investigation, there are many questions based on additional evidence we collected, and it seems that inquiries regarding additional charges will also be conducted." He further stated, "I believe former Prime Minister Han hoped that the investigation would be completed in one session rather than frequently attending, but considering the infringement on the rights of the suspect due to prolonged investigation, we decided to set additional dates for the investigation."
Earlier, former Prime Minister Han underwent a second summons investigation by the special investigation team for about 16 hours and 20 minutes, starting around 9:30 a.m. on the 19th and finishing around 1:50 p.m. that day. The special investigation team previously conducted the first summons investigation of former Prime Minister Han for 13 hours and 40 minutes on July 2 and searched his residence on the 24th of the same month.
When a reporter asked, 'To what percentage has the investigation been completed regarding former Prime Minister Han up to the second investigation, and what consideration is being given to his status?', Park responded, "Former Prime Minister Han did not exercise his right to refuse to testify during the second investigation, and it seems that about 60–70% of the investigation has been completed," adding, "Regarding his status, we do not have any established policy for the investigation." He continued, "Depending on the attitude shown by former Prime Minister Han during the investigation, it could change, but at this stage, it seems that this investigation must conclude before a decision is made regarding his status."
The special investigation team considers former Prime Minister Han a suspect related to serious charges, including involvement in an insurrection and perjury. They suspect that he aided or abetted the emergency martial law declaration by former President Yoon Suk-yeol on Dec. 3 last year.
Former Prime Minister Han is also facing allegations of being involved in the process where a new martial law proclamation was drafted and then discarded after former President Yoon declared martial law. It is reported that after signing documents drafted by former Chief Secretary to the President Kang Ui-koo, he requested to disregard the matter a few days later, stating that 'if the fact of the post-incident document preparation was revealed, it could lead to controversy.' This document was eventually discarded.
Former Prime Minister Han is also accused of being involved in hindering the National Assembly's resolution to lift the martial law while speaking with then-House Leader Choo Kyung-ho of the People Power Party around 11:12 p.m. on the night of the martial law declaration and directing entry controls for the Korea National University of Arts and others after speaking with former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon right after the martial law declaration.
Meanwhile, Park noted that at 2 p.m. that day, Kim Seong-hwa, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is scheduled to appear before the special investigation team to be questioned as a witness in relation to the allegation of hindering the National Assembly's resolution to lift the martial law.
Additionally, Park disclosed that he has suspended the participation of the lawyer for Drone Operations Commander Kim Yong-dae, who is under investigation by the special team regarding the 'suspected infiltration of unmanned aerial vehicles into Pyongyang'. Park explained, "The lawyer disclosed contents learned during the investigation process, as well as military secrets," and "We have suspended the lawyer's participation in the investigation, in accordance with relevant prosecutorial regulations."
The special investigation team is examining whether former President Yoon directly ordered the Drone Operations Team to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles into Pyongyang in October last year to create a justification for the martial law proclamation and whether the military was organizationally involved in concealing this fact. Commander Kim insists that the operation for deploying unmanned aerial vehicles into Pyongyang was conducted legally under the command of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and is unrelated to the emergency martial law declaration on Dec. 3.
Commander Kim is scheduled to undergo special investigation for three consecutive days from today until the 22nd. The lawyer has been excluded from participating in the investigation starting today.
Park said, "There is absolutely no problem if another lawyer participates in the investigation," and added, "If Commander Kim decides not to be investigated without a lawyer's presence, then we do not plan to conduct the investigation today."