Special Prosecutor: “Knowingly Supported the Violation of Constitutional Order”
Indictment Without Detention for Han Ducksoo on Charges of Aiding Rebellion and Perjury
The Special Prosecutor's Office for the December 3 Martial Law, which is investigating allegations of rebellion and treason, announced on August 29 that former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, who is accused of aiding and abetting rebellion and falsifying official documents, has been indicted without detention.
Former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, who is accused of aiding and abetting rebellion and perjury involving former President Yoon Sukyeol, was released from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 27th after his arrest warrant was dismissed. Photo by Yonhap News
The special prosecutor's office stated that at 10:30 a.m. on this day, former Prime Minister Han was indicted without detention on charges of aiding the leader of the rebellion, perjury, falsifying official documents, damaging public documents, violating the Presidential Records Management Act, and using falsified official documents.
Special Prosecutor Park Jiyeong said during a briefing, "The defendant was the highest constitutional authority who could have prevented the president’s unconstitutional and illegal martial law. Nevertheless, even though he knew the president would infringe upon the basic rights of the people and trample on constitutional order, he actively participated in procedural acts to legitimize the process and thus supported it."
She added, "It appears that the December 3 Martial Law was also based on the belief that it would succeed like previous palace coups. After martial law was lifted and a full-scale investigation began, he destroyed documents he had falsified to conceal his actions and lied in front of the entire nation. I hope wise judgment will be made so that such a historical tragedy will never be repeated."
Former Prime Minister Han, as the 'No. 1 state official' and Deputy Chair of the Cabinet, is accused of failing to prevent and instead abetting former President Yoon Sukyeol’s illegal declaration of martial law last year.
He is also accused of recommending the convening of a cabinet meeting before the declaration of martial law to give it a veneer of procedural legality, and of drafting and destroying a subsequent proclamation to remedy legal flaws in the initial martial law declaration. The indictment also includes the charge of perjury at the Constitutional Court by falsely claiming he was unaware of the martial law proclamation.
Previously, on August 27, the special prosecutor’s office requested an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Han, but the court dismissed it, stating, "There is room for dispute regarding key facts and the legal assessment of the suspect’s actions." The special prosecutor’s office then decided that reapplying for a warrant would be meaningless, and indicted Han without further investigation just two days after the warrant was dismissed.
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