Han Urged Minister Song Miryung, "Can't You Come Any Faster?"
Delayed Cabinet Review After National Assembly Lifted Martial Law
Former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, who is accused of aiding and abetting insurrection and perjury related to former President Yoon Sukyeol, was released from the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 27th of last month after his arrest warrant was dismissed. Photo by Yonhap News
It has been revealed that the indictment against former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo states that he ignored recommendations to lift martial law and was involved in the creation of post-facto documents. Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok's team specified that Han was aware of the unconstitutionality of martial law but nevertheless aided and abetted its implementation.
According to the indictment of former Prime Minister Han on September 1, the special prosecutor's team wrote that Han was aware of the illegality of the emergency martial law. Since entering public office in 1970, Han experienced the declaration of emergency martial law by former President Park Chunghee in October 1972, the declaration of martial law after the assassination of former President Park in October 1979, and the declaration of martial law by former President Chun Doohwan in May 1980. The indictment states that Han understood, based on these experiences, that the situation in December of last year did not meet the requirements for declaring martial law, and that such a declaration would inevitably entail unconstitutional measures, including the suspension of the National Assembly's functions.
The special prosecutor's team stated in the indictment that, prior to the declaration of emergency martial law, Han advised former President Yoon Sukyeol and former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun, among others, that "in order to declare emergency martial law, a Cabinet meeting must be held, and since there are not enough current Cabinet members, more must be called in to meet the quorum."
In response, former President Yoon instructed former Presidential Secretary Kang Uigu to quickly summon six people, including Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Miryung and former Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sangmok, to the presidential office. As none of the additional Cabinet members arrived by the time the scheduled declaration of emergency martial law at 10 p.m. approached, Han personally contacted Minister Song, urging, "You're on your way, right? Where are you now? Please hurry."
When Minister Song replied that she would arrive around 10:10 p.m., Han pressed again, saying, "Can't you come any faster? Please hurry," according to the investigation.
The special prosecutor's team reported that while waiting for the Cabinet members, Han read through martial law-related documents handed to him by former President Yoon in the main reception room, shared them with those around him, and reviewed specific implementation plans and measures related to martial law.
After the declaration of martial law, Han attempted to create the appearance of a legitimate Cabinet review by telling the Cabinet members present, "Sign to indicate that you attended together at the presidential office." However, former Deputy Prime Minister Choi and other Cabinet members refused to sign and left, so no signatures were actually collected.
Han then remained with former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin, reading through martial law-related documents and conversing for 16 minutes. The special prosecutor's team determined that Han received documents including the emergency martial law declaration statement, the Martial Law Command proclamation, and instructions related to martial law. The team also concluded that Han was aware of, and did not oppose, the instructions Lee received regarding the media blackout and water and power cutoffs, but instead closely coordinated with Lee to implement them.
The indictment also details Han's actions in aiding insurrection by delaying the Cabinet review after the National Assembly passed a resolution to lift martial law. Han learned through a live broadcast that at 1:02 a.m. on December 4, the National Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution demanding the lifting of emergency martial law while he was presiding over a senior staff meeting at the Seoul Government Complex.
Subsequently, then-Minister for Government Policy Coordination Bang Giseon suggested, "Shouldn't we hold a Cabinet meeting to lift martial law? Please speak directly with the President. You're the only one who can resolve this now."
Nevertheless, Han responded, "Let's wait a bit," and delayed the necessary steps for the Cabinet meeting to lift martial law. It was only about an hour later, after receiving further recommendations around 2 a.m., that he belatedly convened the Cabinet meeting.
Even after the martial law declaration, Han sought to create a legitimate appearance by preparing post-facto documents. On December 6 of last year, former Presidential Secretary Kang contacted Han to ask, "There are no Cabinet meeting materials related to emergency martial law. Do you have any?"
In response, Han handed over the emergency martial law declaration statement he had received from former President Yoon on the day martial law was declared. Kang then created a cover page titled "Declaration of Emergency Martial Law" with signature lines for the President, Prime Minister, and Defense Minister, and attached the statement from Han, thereby fabricating an official document.
Afterwards, Kang asked Han to sign the document, and Han complied by signing in the Prime Minister's section. Kang then collected signatures from former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun and former President Yoon Sukyeol in turn, and stored the document in his office.
When former Defense Minister Kim was arrested, Han called Kang and said, "If it becomes known that we created the document after the fact, it could spark another controversy, so let's pretend I never signed it," and requested the document's destruction. Kang, with former President Yoon's approval, shredded the document that had been stored in his office.
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