National Assembly 'Investigation into Treason Allegations'... Han Deok-su Attends, Jeong Jin-seok and Oh Dong-woon Absent

Second Round of Reports from the Government Following the Military by the Special Committee
Suspended Prime Minister Han Duck-soo Appears
Key Figures Including Jeong Jin-seok and Oh Dong-woon Absent Regarding the Yoon Arrest Warrant

The National Assembly's 'Special Committee for the National Investigation into the Alleged Treason Charges through the Declaration of Martial Law by the Yoon Seok-yeol Government' received institutional reports from the government on the 15th. On this day, the special committee was attended by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, but key witnesses such as Presidential Secretary General Jeong Jin-seok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok, and Chief of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Oh Dong-woon were absent.

The special committee received institutional reports in the morning at the National Assembly main building from the Prime Minister's Office, Presidential Secretariat, National Security Office, Presidential Security Service, Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the National Police Agency. This was the second round of reports following the military, including the Ministry of National Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Army Headquarters, the previous day.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae, and Minister of Unification Kim Young-ho appeared as institutional witnesses on the 15th at the National Assembly's Special Committee on the Government Investigation into the Truth of the Treason Charges through the Declaration of Martial Law by the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration. 2025.1.15 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, whose duties were suspended due to the passage of the impeachment motion, drew attention as an institutional witness by attending on this day. It appears that the National Assembly considered potential future legal issues such as issuing a summons or filing charges if he had been absent. In addition to Prime Minister Han, National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong and Director of the Ministry of Government Legislation Lee Wan-gyu also appeared.

About 20 people, including Acting Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-yong, Prosecutor General Shim Woo-jung, Special Investigation Headquarters Chief for Martial Law Cases Park Se-hyun (Seoul High Prosecutor), National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho, Corruption Investigation Office Chief Oh Dong-woon, National Police Agency National Investigation Headquarters Chief Woo Jong-su, and Presidential Security Service Chief Park Jong-jun, submitted statements of absence.

In response, Ahn Kyu-baek, Chairperson of the Special Committee for the National Investigation, expressed "deep regret as the chairperson regarding these absences," and warned, "Regarding the issue of absence, the chairperson will discuss with the party floor leaders and take follow-up measures such as issuing summons or filing charges."

The ruling and opposition parties clashed over witness attendance. Assemblyman Min Byung-duk pointed out, "Acting Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok submitted a statement of absence," adding, "He was also absent from the emergency question session at the plenary meeting on the 9th, citing busy duties as acting prime minister, but he attended the party-government meeting the day before. It seems like he is representing a specific party." On the other hand, Assemblyman Park Jun-tae of the People Power Party criticized, "Those who found it difficult to come showed up, but those who should have come did not. Where are the executives including those from the Corruption Investigation Office?"