Han Donghoon Refuses Special Probe: "Find Out Why Speaker Woo Delayed the Martial Law Lift"

Han Donghoon and Allies Target Speaker Woo Over Martial Law Vote
"Was the Vote Delayed Until President Lee Arrived?"
Speaker Woo Responds: "Opening Time Was Set at 1 a.m.; Changing It Would Violate Rules"

Han Donghoon, former leader of the People Power Party, has refused to participate as a witness in the martial law special investigation (Special Prosecutor Cho Eunsuk) and has raised questions regarding the actions of the Democratic Party of Korea and National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonsik during the vote to lift martial law on the night of December 3 last year. On September 14, Han stated on social media, "The special prosecutor has nothing more to hear from me about martial law, but there is much to be heard from members of the Democratic Party."

Han Donghoon, former leader of the People Power Party. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Han called on the special prosecutor to investigate "how the Democratic Party was so certain in advance that martial law would be declared, and why Speaker Woo delayed the vote for dozens of minutes even after the quorum was met for the vote to lift martial law." During a live broadcast on social media that night, he also commented, "It felt as if the Democratic Party and Speaker Woo were prepared, knowing that former President Yoon Seokyoul would declare martial law."

On the 13th, Han also posted on social media, "The Democratic Party has actively supported the special prosecutor's attempt to forcibly summon me," and added, "I want to ask the Democratic Party, which is suddenly siding with the special prosecutor and harshly criticizing me, why Speaker Woo did not proceed with the vote immediately after the quorum was met that day." He continued, "At the time, inside the plenary chamber, I and other People Power Party lawmakers strongly demanded that Speaker Woo hold the vote immediately, multiple times." He further questioned, "Was it not the case that Speaker Woo delayed and waited for Lee Jaemyung, then leader of the Democratic Party, who was hiding in the woods, to arrive at the chamber before proceeding with the vote?"

Woo Wonshik, Speaker of the National Assembly, announced the passage of the impeachment motion against former President Yoon Seokyoul at the National Assembly on December 14 last year. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Park Sangsoo, an attorney affiliated with the People Power Party and known to be close to Han Donghoon, also supported Han's claims. On September 15, Park wrote on social media, "The composure of Speaker Woo, who kept doing live broadcasts at the time, and the strange calm of the Democratic Party, always left me uneasy, and I am still curious about the source of Kim Minseok's martial law theory before martial law was declared. It is truly fortunate that the Democratic Party's odd behavior is finally being recognized and exposed."

However, in response to Han's claims, Speaker Woo posted on social media on September 14, "Is it because you have never been a member of the National Assembly? The Speaker does not set the opening time alone," and added, "It must be coordinated with the leaders of the negotiating groups." He further explained, "The final consultation with floor leader Chu Kyungho and others was completed at 1 a.m. that day. If the Speaker arbitrarily changes the schedule just because the quorum is met without any special circumstances, that would be a procedural violation."