[Breaking] Insurrection Special Prosecutor Requests Arrest Warrant for Former Justice Minister Park Sungjae

The special investigation team led by Special Prosecutor Cho Eunseok, which is probing allegations of insurrection and treason related to the December 3 Martial Law, has moved to secure the custody of former Minister of Justice Park Sungjae, who is suspected of aiding and abetting the imposition of martial law.

On October 9, the special investigation team announced that it had requested an arrest warrant for former Minister Park on charges including participation in important insurrection duties and abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights. As Minister of Justice, whose core work is the protection of human rights and upholding the rule of law, Park is accused of failing in his duty to prevent the illegal proclamation of martial law, which contained numerous elements infringing on human rights.

He is also accused of instructing a meeting of the Ministry of Justice’s directors and bureau chiefs, convened on the night martial law was declared, to consider dispatching prosecutors to the joint investigation headquarters, check the capacity of correctional facilities, and have staff responsible for travel bans report to work.

The special investigation team summoned Park as a suspect on September 24 and questioned him regarding the full scope of the allegations. It has been reported that Park denied all charges during the investigation.