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Photo courtesy of Yonhap News |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] SEOUL, Aug. 24 — South Korea’s special counsel team investigating the 2023 martial law case announced that it has filed a request for an arrest warrant against former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.
The warrant was sought on charges including aiding and abetting insurrection, perjury, falsification of official documents, damage to public records, violations of the Presidential Records Act, and use of false documents.
According to Special Counsel Park Ji-young, Han, as Prime Minister and Deputy Chair of the State Council, was constitutionally obligated to safeguard the nation’s basic law and check arbitrary presidential powers. “The Prime Minister is the only government official appointed directly by the President but also serves as the highest-ranking constitutional officer to restrain unconstitutional acts through the State Council,” Park explained.
Han is accused of failing to prevent, and thereby abetting, former President Yoon’s illegal proclamation of emergency martial law in 2023. “Given his unique position and duty as the top constitutional officer capable of stopping such unconstitutional measures in advance, we have decided to seek his arrest,” Park said.
If approved, Han would become the highest-ranking official detained in connection with the martial law investigation.
알파경제 Kim Jisun (stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
