Former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon did not appear for a pretrial witness examination requested by the special counsel investigating sedition in connection with allegations of obstructing the National Assembly's Dec. 3 martial law termination vote. It was his second consecutive absence, following the 23rd of 4th.
According to the legal community on the 2nd, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 31 Single Judge (Judge Jeon Eun-jin) opened a witness examination session for the former leader at about 10 a.m. that day. However, the session did not proceed because the former leader did not appear.
The court said, "We attempted to serve the subpoena by mail and through a process server, but service has not been completed due to 'premises closed and no one present' (meaning the door is locked and no one is there)," and added, "Because the witness did not appear, today's session cannot proceed."
The special counsel team attending the session said to the court, "We continue to believe a witness examination is necessary," and requested, "Please hold one more session." In line with the special counsel's request, the court reassigned the session to 2 p.m. on the 23rd. The court also asked the special counsel to review whether to maintain or withdraw the request for the witness examination.
Earlier, on the 10th of 4th, the special counsel requested a pretrial witness examination of the former People Power Party floor leader Chu Kyung-ho's alleged "obstruction of the vote to lift martial law," seeking to question the former leader in court. A pretrial witness examination allows the court to summon a reference witness for questioning when that person does not comply with an investigative agency's request for an interview.
The court accepted the special counsel's request and sent subpoenas to the former leader on the 12th and 18th of 4th. However, both attempts reportedly failed to reach the former leader due to premises closed and no one present.