South Korean ex-PM Han Duck-soo's house raided over suspected role in Yoon's martial law decree
SEOUL: A special counsel team on July 24 carried out a search and seizure operation at the residence of former South Korean prime minister Han Duck-soo, accused of involvement in impeached former President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempt to impose martial law.
The team led by special prosecutor Cho Eun-suk, formed to investigate the Dec 3 martial law debacle, sent investigators to raid Han's residence in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, in the morning.
Han is accused of adding his signature to the martial law decree, drafted by then-presidential secretary Kang Eui-gu, after martial law had already been declared to add legitimacy to the former president's actions.
The special counsel claimed that Han then ordered the destruction of the document, which was allegedly hastily drafted after Yoon's surprise declaration.
Han allegedly had the document destroyed to avoid 'additional controversy' if it were discovered that the document was drafted after the declaration.
Article 82 of the Constitution states that 'acts of the President under law shall be executed in writing, and such documents shall be countersigned by the Prime Minister and the members of the State Council concerned.' It adds that 'the same shall apply to military affairs'.
Han is also accused of lying in his testimony to the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly about his prior knowledge of Yoon's martial law decree.
Han said that he was unaware of the existence of Yoon's martial law declaration – the version announced in Yoon's address to the nation – until after the decree was lifted. He said he only discovered a copy in his pocket later and that he openly opposed Yoon's plans to impose martial law at the time.
In contrast to Han's claims, the special counsel team secured surveillance footage showing Han leaving the Cabinet meeting room at the presidential office, after Yoon presided over a legally irregular Cabinet meeting, with copies of the decree.
The special counsel plans to analyse the seized documents and files before summoning Han again. 'Today's search and seizure operation was carried out due to criminal allegations against former prime minister Han, so there will be another summoning (of Han) based on the evidence collected,' assistant special prosecutor Park Ji-young told an afternoon briefing.
Former presidential secretary Kang's residence was also raided in the morning by investigators from the same special prosecutor team, for allegedly playing a part in Yoon's attempt to impose martial law.
The raid took place 22 days after Han was summoned and questioned by the special counsel team on July 2.
Han was questioned for some 14 hours at the Seoul High Prosecutor's Office in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul. - The Korea Herald/ANN
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