Special Investigation Team's 'Blade' Aiming at Cabinet Members and Politicians... Low Possibility of Cooperation

[Financial News]  The blade of the special investigation team for rebellion and foreign affairs, which brought former President Yoon Seok-yeol to trial, is now aimed at former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo, other cabinet members, and politicians. Some cabinet members are suspected of perjury regarding the state of the cabinet meeting held just before the martial law. Additionally, opposition lawmakers are accused of obstructing the National Assembly's vote on the martial law termination request and the arrest of former President Yoon. However, it is more likely that they will not cooperate with the investigation. After former President Yoon refused to be summoned for questioning, most other suspects have shown similar attitudes.  
According to the legal community on the 22nd, the special investigation team for rebellion and foreign affairs has reportedly booked former Prime Minister Han as a suspect for perjury and violation of the Act on Testimony and Appraisal at the National Assembly (Testimony Appraisal Act).
The investigation team suspects that former Prime Minister Han's testimony at the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly, claiming he was unaware of the martial law proclamation, was false.
Former Prime Minister Han testified at the National Assembly last February that he was "completely unaware of the martial law proclamation until the cabinet meeting for its termination and later found it in the back pocket of his suit." He also claimed during the impeachment trial of former President Yoon, "I really don't remember when and how I received it."
However, it is reported that the CCTV from the presidential office, secured by the investigation team, shows former Prime Minister Han taking documents, including the martial law proclamation and a public statement, from the cabinet meeting location on the day of the martial law proclamation.
The investigation team is also said to have 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 president's reception room."
Former Prime Minister Han is also suspected of involvement in and aiding the emergency martial law and creating false post-event documents. Given that he was the top national executive along with former President Yoon at the time, there is speculation that the investigation team will apply for an arrest warrant for him.
Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min and former Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae are also under investigation by the special team. Former Minister Lee is suspected of instructing the fire department to cut off power and water to media outlets such as Hankyoreh, Kyunghyang Shinmun, and MBC during the martial law. The investigation team already raided former Minister Lee's residence and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety on the 17th to secure related materials. The investigation team is also coordinating the schedule for questioning former Minister Lee.
Former Minister Park Sung-jae is suspected of conspiring on a second martial law or martial law resolution plan during a meeting at the presidential residence in Samcheong-dong on the day of the martial law termination with former Presidential Chief of Staff for Civil Affairs Kim Joo-hyun, former Minister Lee, and former Director of the Legislative Office Lee Wan-kyu. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok is suspected of perjury related to the 'martial law note.'
The investigation team is also reviewing a case against People's Power Party lawmakers Choo Kyung-ho and Na Kyung-won, who allegedly spoke with former President Yoon after the emergency martial law proclamation. The main investigation target is whether former President Yoon called the People's Power Party's floor leadership and senior lawmakers to request them not to participate in the National Assembly's vote on the martial law termination request. Charges of abuse of authority and obstruction of special official duties may apply.
The case against 45 People's Power Party lawmakers who gathered in front of the official residence during the execution of the arrest warrant has also been transferred to the investigation team. The investigation team plans to conduct investigations in order according to procedures, including reviewing the complaint and questioning the complainant and the accused. Charges of aiding rebellion and obstruction of special official duties are under review.
However, the legal community predicts that the likelihood of their cooperation with the investigation is low. Former President Yoon set a precedent by refusing to be summoned for questioning from the prosecution, police, and the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (CIO) before the special investigation team was launched. Even after being detained for the second time, he refused to comply with the prosecution's request for attendance, stating, "I will reveal the truth in court."
Moreover, cabinet members and politicians may define the investigation team's investigation as 'political oppression,' 'political retaliation,' or 'illegal excessive investigation.' Considering that many of the investigation targets are legal experts, there is a prediction that they will use legal delay strategies as much as possible, like former President Yoon. They may use tactics such as postponing summons, delaying submission of materials, and exercising the right to remain silent.
Former President Yoon is also sending similar signals externally. Through his legal representative the previous day, former President Yoon stated, "Many soldiers and public officials who followed the legitimate orders of their superiors are being called to the investigation team and court, suffering hardships," and issued a statement to the effect that "the investigation team's investigation is political oppression." This can be interpreted as a message instructing collaborators during the martial law to respond accordingly.
The investigation team dismissed former President Yoon's claims at a briefing that day, stating, "There is no value in refuting," and "We cannot accept the term 'political investigation.'"




jisseo@fnnews.com Minji Seo, Dongkyu Kim, Kyungsu Jeong, Eunsol Choi reporters