Special Investigation Team Indicts Former Prime Minister Han Deok-su, Transfers Complaints Against 45 Members of People Power Party

[Financial News] The special investigation team for insurrection and foreign affairs, which has indicted former President Yoon Seok-yeol, has reportedly indicted former Prime Minister Han Deok-su as a suspect for perjury and violation of the National Assembly Testimony and Appraisal Act.
They consider his statement of being unaware of the martial law document as perjury, and it is expected that investigations into other cabinet members who attended the cabinet meeting just before the martial law, such as former Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min, former Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae, and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, will intensify.  
According to the legal community on the 22nd, the special investigation team is examining the possibility of perjury by cabinet members who attended the 'Martial Law Cabinet Meeting' based on CCTV footage from the presidential office's main reception room.
The special investigation team suspects that former Prime Minister Han's testimony in the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly, claiming he was unaware of the martial law proclamation, is false.
In February, former Prime Minister Han testified in the National Assembly that he was "completely unaware of the martial law proclamation until the cabinet meeting for its lifting and later found it in the back pocket of his suit." He also claimed in the impeachment trial of former President Yoon Seok-yeol that he "really doesn't remember when or how he received it."
However, it is reported that CCTV footage from the presidential office obtained by the special investigation team shows former Prime Minister Han Deok-su taking papers, including the martial law document and a public statement, from the cabinet meeting venue on the day of the martial law proclamation.
The special investigation team has reportedly secured statements from former Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yeol and Unification Minister Kim Young-ho, who attended the emergency martial law cabinet meeting, indicating that "former Prime Minister Han saw the martial law document in the presidential reception room."
Former Prime Minister Han is also suspected of participating in or aiding the emergency martial law and falsifying post-event documents. Given his position as a top national policy official alongside former President Yoon, there is speculation that the special investigation team may seek an arrest warrant for him.
Former Minister of Public Administration and Security Lee Sang-min and former Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae are also under investigation by the special investigation team. Former Minister Lee is suspected of ordering power and water cuts to media outlets such as Hankyoreh, Kyunghyang Shinmun, and MBC during the martial law.
He testified in the impeachment trial of former President Yoon that he never attempted to cut off electricity or water and never received such orders from former President Yoon. However, he admitted to having glimpsed a piece of paper with power and water cut instructions from a distance in the presidential office.
Nevertheless, it is reported that CCTV footage obtained by the special investigation team shows former Minister Lee holding a document placed on the table in the presidential reception room and conversing with former Prime Minister Han.
The special investigation team suspects that the document includes instructions for media power and water cuts. They have already searched former Minister Lee's residence and the Ministry of Public Administration and Security on the 17th to secure related materials. They are also coordinating the investigation schedule with former Minister Lee.
Former Minister Park Sung-jae is suspected of conspiring for a second martial law or martial law resolution plan in connection with a meeting at the Presidential Guest House in Samcheong-dong on the day of the martial law lifting, involving former Presidential Secretary for Civil Affairs Kim Joo-hyun, former Minister Lee, and former Director of the Legislative Office Lee Wan-kyu. Former Minister Park claims the meeting was arranged to "meet before the year ends."
Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok is also suspected of perjury related to the 'martial law note.' On the day of the martial law, former Deputy Prime Minister Choi, who received a note containing emergency legislative body budget details from former President Yoon, previously claimed, "Someone gave me the material in the form of a folded note," and "I decided to ignore it (regarding martial law) and didn't look at it."
The special investigation team is also reviewing a complaint against People Power Party lawmakers Choo Kyung-ho and Na Kyung-won, who communicated with former President Yoon after the emergency martial law proclamation.
The main investigation target is whether former President Yoon called the People Power Party's floor leadership and senior lawmakers to request them not to participate in the National Assembly's vote on the martial law lifting demand.
To accurately understand the National Assembly's situation before and after the martial law lifting, the special investigation team is reportedly planning to investigate former Army Counterintelligence Command Director Yeo In-hyung, who is currently detained in the military prison, as a reference.
The complaint against 45 People Power Party lawmakers who gathered in front of the official residence during the execution of the arrest warrant has also been transferred to the special investigation team. The special investigation team plans to conduct investigations in sequence according to procedures such as reviewing the complaint and questioning the complainants and defendants.

 


kyu0705@fnnews.com Kim Dong-kyu Reporter