'Martial Law Confusion' Han Duck-soo Admits: “I Committed Perjury at the Constitutional Court Regarding Document Destruction”

[Financial News] Han Duck-soo, the former Prime Minister indicted for insurrection in connection with the December 3 emergency martial law, claimed that he urged former President Yoon Suk Yeol to reconsider the declaration.

According to legal sources on the 24th, the Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 33, presided over by Jin Gwan Lee, held a continued hearing for Han Duck-soo on charges of aiding the leader of an insurrection and engaging in key insurrection-related duties, and conducted a defendant examination.
Han Duck-soo testified that on December 3 of last year, after hearing about the emergency martial law declaration plan in Yoon Suk Yeol’s office, he was "so shocked that I said, 'Our country’s international credibility will fall, and the economy could be devastated. This is a very serious matter. Please reconsider,'" conveying this sentiment.
When asked if he had used the word 'oppose,' he replied, "I did not use it explicitly."
When the court asked, "If you intended to stop the emergency martial law, why did you remain silent when other cabinet members asked for reconsideration?" Han Duck-soo responded, "Each time I entered the office, I continued to express my opposition," adding, "I thought it would be better for experienced figures like Former Deputy Prime Minister Choi and Former Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul to speak up."
He further stated, "Looking back now, I regret not joining in more actively and taking stronger action."

Han Duck-soo explained that he did not remember the circumstances in which he was seen taking two documents in the previously released Office of the President of South Korea CCTV footage.
He stated, "After hearing about martial law from the president, I have little memory of what happened or what I did. I was almost in a state of shock, so while I saw and heard things, I was not fully aware of the situation."
Regarding the CCTV footage showing him talking with Former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min for 16 minutes while looking at documents, he said, "I only realized I had spoken with Minister Lee after watching the footage this time. I have no memory of the conversation at all."
Han Duck-soo also commented on the CCTV footage showing Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun seemingly counting cabinet members with his fingers during their conversation, saying, "I was so shocked by the martial law that I was conscious but do not remember what I saw," and "I was not aware of Minister Kim’s actions at all."

Han Duck-soo explained that he suggested convening the cabinet and called Minister Song Mi-ryeong of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) to urge her to arrive quickly, saying, "Although the cabinet meeting did not follow proper procedures, I thought more members would come and express dissenting opinions. I believed that, for the country’s development, they would not support martial law."
Regarding the call to Minister Song, he said, "There was a move to declare martial law quickly, so I was concerned that if it was delayed too long, the declaration might go ahead."
Han Duck-soo also addressed his request to Former Chief Kang around December 8, after the martial law declaration, to destroy the post-signed martial law proclamation.
He stated, "I thought it was inappropriate because the signature was added after the fact."

However, when asked by the special prosecutor team, "Did you testify to investigators that you committed perjury because you thought destroying the documents received from the Office of the President of South Korea was inappropriate?" he replied, "Yes. I committed perjury at the Constitutional Court of Korea."
Han Duck-soo also stated, "As Prime Minister overseeing state affairs, I feel political and historical responsibility for failing to prevent unconstitutional and illegal martial law. If there is anything I can do to prevent such events from happening again, I will do it. However, I will carry the burden of having failed to stop martial law, which caused great hardship for the people."
The court is scheduled to hold the final hearing on the 26th, where the special prosecutor team will present its sentencing recommendation and Han Duck-soo will deliver his closing statement.
newssu@fnnews.com Kim Soo-yeon Reporter