The special counsel investigating the insurrection case, which is probing allegations related to the Dec. 3 martial law, has indicted former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae over suspicions of participating in the insurrection and quashing the investigation into Kim Keon-hee.
The special counsel investigating the insurrection case said on the 11th that it indicted the former Minister without detention on charges of engaging in essential duties of an insurrection, abuse of authority to interfere with the exercise of rights, and violating the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
After the declaration of martial law, the former Minister convened a meeting of directors-general at the Ministry of Justice and allegedly sequentially joined the insurrection led by former President Yoon Suk-yeol by ordering reviews of dispatching prosecutors to the joint investigation headquarters, checking the capacity of correctional facilities, and summoning staff in charge of exit bans. He was also charged with ordering the Prosecutors Division of the Ministry of Justice to prepare a document containing logic to justify martial law, thereby compelling them to do "a task without duty."
The indictment also states that Park received an improper request from Kim Keon-hee and exerted influence to ensure a no-charge decision in a related case. The special counsel investigating the insurrection case previously sought Park's arrest warrant twice, but the court rejected both requests, leaving investigators unable to secure custody.
Along with this, the special counsel investigating the insurrection case also indicted without detention former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo; former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok; former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Kim Joo-hyun; former chief of staff Chung Jin-suk; and former presidential secretary for public discipline Lee Won-mo in connection with allegations of failing to appoint or nominate Constitutional Court justices.
Former Prime Minister Han and former Deputy Prime Minister Choi are accused of dereliction of duty for failing for an extended period to appoint Constitutional Court justice candidates recommended by the National Assembly in the aftermath of former President Yoon's impeachment motion. Former Prime Minister Han; former senior secretary Kim; former chief of staff Chung; and former presidential secretary Lee were also charged with abuse of authority to interfere with the exercise of rights for their alleged involvement in nominating Ham Sang-hoon and Lee Wan-kyu as Constitutional Court justice candidates without a normal vetting process.
Regarding alleged perjury related to the so-called "safe house meeting," the special counsel investigating the insurrection case said it indicted former Korea Legislation Research Institute chief Lee Wan-kyu on charges of violating the Act on Testimony and Appraisal before the National Assembly, and separately indicted former Deputy Prime Minister Choi on perjury charges over alleged false testimony in a trial related to former Prime Minister Han.