Special Prosecutor Team Searching for 'Cabinet Members Supporting Insurrection'... Following Lee Sang-min, Will Han Deok-soo Be Detained?

[Financial News] The special prosecutor team for insurrection and foreign exchange (led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok) is continuing its investigation into cabinet members involved in the emergency martial law of December 3. In addition to Kim Yong-hyun, former Minister of National Defense, who was the 'second-in-command of the insurrection,' the investigation is expected to intensify with actions against those who supported the insurrection.
According to the legal community on the 29th, Judge Jeong Jae-wook of the Seoul Central District Court, who is in charge of warrants, will conduct a warrant review (pre-arrest suspect interrogation) for former Minister Lee Sang-min at 2 PM on the 31st.
The insurrection special prosecutor team requested an arrest warrant for former Minister Lee on the 28th for charges including engaging in important duties related to the insurrection, abuse of authority, and perjury. The special prosecutor team explained that the decision was based on the seriousness of the crime, the risk of evidence destruction, and the possibility of reoffending. If the court issues an arrest warrant for former Minister Lee on the 31st, he will become the second cabinet member to be arrested in connection with the insurrection, following former Minister Kim.  
Former Minister Lee is accused of receiving orders from former President Yoon Seok-yeol on December 3 of last year to cut off power and water to media outlets and conveying these orders to the National Police Agency and the Fire Agency. In fact, when the special investigation headquarters for emergency martial law indicted former President Yoon for being the leader of the insurrection last January, the indictment stated that 'former President Yoon ordered former Minister Lee to cut off power and water to specific media outlets before and after the declaration of martial law.'
The special prosecutor team summoned former Minister Lee to the special prosecutor's office at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office on the 25th and questioned him for about 19 hours. It is also known that during the investigation of Fire Commissioner Heo Seok-gon as a reference on the 23rd, they obtained testimony that former Minister Lee called during the martial law period and instructed, 'If the National Police Agency requests power and water cut-off, the Fire Agency should cooperate.'
Former Minister Lee is also accused of failing to fulfill his 'constitutional duties' as a cabinet member. Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young explained at a press briefing that day, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is responsible for overseeing the safety of the people, and there is a duty to protect the lives of the people," adding, "Power and water cut-off is an act that infringes on the lives and safety of the people."
There is speculation that an attempt to detain former Prime Minister Han Deok-soo is imminent. This is because former Prime Minister Han is accused of convening a cabinet meeting before the declaration of martial law to provide procedural legitimacy and being involved in drafting and discarding the martial law declaration afterward. The special prosecutor team launched a forced investigation by raiding former Prime Minister Han's residence and the official residence of the Prime Minister on the 24th.
Special Prosecutor Park said, "We have seized and searched former Prime Minister Han's confiscated items and are analyzing them," adding, "We have not stopped the related investigation and are conducting various investigations and analyses." 


kyu0705@fnnews.com Reporter Kim Dong-kyu