South Korean police have questioned Prime Minister and acting President Han Duck-soo as part of an investigation into the short-lived decision this month to impose martial law, an official at his office said on Friday.
The acting president was among 12 people present at a cabinet meeting on December 3 shortly before President Yoon Suk Yeol's shock late-night announcement on martial law. Nine of those people have been questioned by a special police unit investigating the case, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Han, a career technocrat, became acting president when Yoon was impeached on Saturday after a parliamentary vote. The official at Han's office did not say when he was questioned, but said it took place before Han was appointed acting president.
He was being investigated as a suspect, Yonhap reported.
Earlier this month, the main opposition Democratic Party reported Han to police after accusing him of insurrection.
Police officials were not immediately available for comment.
Han has previously said he had opposed the martial law declaration, which Yoon withdrew after barely six hours when outraged legislators rejected his decree.
Yoon faces a Constitutional Court trial on whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential powers after his impeachment.
He also faces investigations into whether the martial law declaration constituted insurrection, one of the few charges for which a South Korean president does not have immunity.
A team of legal representatives and opposition legislators who will take on the role of prosecutors in the impeachment trial met on Friday.
“We gathered here today [Friday] to fulfil our historic duty of impeaching Yoon Suk Yeol,” said legislator Jung Chung-rae, who chairs the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee leading the impeachment case.
South Korea police questioned acting president Han over martial law decree
Image: JEON HEON-KYUN/Pool via REUTERS/ File photo
South Korean police have questioned Prime Minister and acting President Han Duck-soo as part of an investigation into the short-lived decision this month to impose martial law, an official at his office said on Friday.
The acting president was among 12 people present at a cabinet meeting on December 3 shortly before President Yoon Suk Yeol's shock late-night announcement on martial law. Nine of those people have been questioned by a special police unit investigating the case, the Yonhap news agency reported.
Han, a career technocrat, became acting president when Yoon was impeached on Saturday after a parliamentary vote. The official at Han's office did not say when he was questioned, but said it took place before Han was appointed acting president.
He was being investigated as a suspect, Yonhap reported.
Earlier this month, the main opposition Democratic Party reported Han to police after accusing him of insurrection.
Police officials were not immediately available for comment.
Han has previously said he had opposed the martial law declaration, which Yoon withdrew after barely six hours when outraged legislators rejected his decree.
Yoon faces a Constitutional Court trial on whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential powers after his impeachment.
He also faces investigations into whether the martial law declaration constituted insurrection, one of the few charges for which a South Korean president does not have immunity.
A team of legal representatives and opposition legislators who will take on the role of prosecutors in the impeachment trial met on Friday.
“We gathered here today [Friday] to fulfil our historic duty of impeaching Yoon Suk Yeol,” said legislator Jung Chung-rae, who chairs the parliamentary legislation and judiciary committee leading the impeachment case.
South Korea's Yoon willing to represent himself in legal proceedings, lawyer says
What do we know about investigations faced by South Korean President Yoon?
The team includes a former Constitutional Court judge who was part of the panel that deliberated in the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.
The joint investigation team including police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials summoned Yoon for a second time on Friday to appear for questioning on December 25, Yonhap said.
Yoon did not respond to the first summons by the team earlier this week.
Police have tried unsuccessfully to raid Yoon's office to seek evidence after the presidential office security service denied them entry.
The opposition is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing on new Constitutional Court judges next week that the governing party has vowed to boycott.
South Korea's Constitutional Court has only six judges with three seats vacant.
Opposition parties and the governing party have clashed over whether an acting president has the authority to appoint new judges to the court.
One judge was appointed to the court by an acting president previously during the impeachment of former president Park in 2017.
Reuters
MORE:
South Korean President Yoon vows to 'fight to the end'
South Korean ruling party opposes Yoon impeachment, defence minister quits
South Korea's fading nightlife signals shift in hard-drinking culture
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
News and promos in your inbox
subscribeMost read
Latest Videos