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Korea Herald
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Will ex-PM Han be next Cabinet member detained?
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo attended a questioning session on Tuesday to comply with a summons from special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team, which has been tasked with investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's alleged insurrection and treason. Han, who was summoned as a suspect, arrived at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office at approximately 9:25 a.m. and entered the building without answering questions. Reporters asked whether he maintained his position that he neither participated in nor supported Yoon's alleged insurrection. The former prime minister briefly said, 'Thank you for your hard work.' While the special counsel reportedly questioned Han on his alleged role in former President Yoon's martial law declaration on Dec. 3, Tuesday's summons is seen as an effort to build the case ahead of the possible detention of the former prime minister. Han is suspected of both failing to prevent and potentially facilitating the unconstitutional imposition of martial law. According to the Constitution and Government Organization Act, the prime minister supervises ministries on behalf of the president and oversees the ministers' actions. Any proposal made by the defense minister and interior minister to declare martial law must go through the prime minister before it reaches the president. Since Han was in a position involving him in the decision-making process before and after the martial law declaration as the vice chair of the Cabinet meeting, the special counsel team views him as one of the key figures in the alleged insurrection. Han was previously named as an accomplice who attempted to prepare false public documents. According to the special counsel team, former President Yoon fabricated an official martial law document on Dec. 5, two days after declaring martial law. Although the National Assembly lifted martial law within hours, Han and then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun reportedly backdated the document to make Yoon's declaration appear legally proper. Kang Eui-gu, who at the time was a secretary at the presidential office and drafted the document, reportedly testified in the special counsel investigation that the document was discarded at Han's request and upon Yoon's approval. The decision would be in violation of Article 82 of the Constitution, which stipulates that acts of the president under law be executed in writing and that such documents should be signed by the prime minister and Cabinet members concerned. The special counsel team has raised the additional suspicion that Han called then-ruling People Power Party Floor Leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho to interfere with the National Assembly's effort to lift the martial law declaration. Han is also accused of perjury for claiming in testimony to the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly that he was unaware of the martial law declaration in printed form until after the decree was lifted. During a press briefing, assistant special counsel Park Ji-young referenced the Constitutional Court's March ruling that dismissed the impeachment of former Prime Minister Han, noting that the court at the time found no objective evidence. 'Since then, the situation has changed significantly. The special counsel team was launched after the Constitutional Court's ruling and has collected additional evidence, including documents and records related to the martial law declaration,' Park said, suggesting that the legal interpretation of Han's alleged role in the martial law could shift. According to reports, Han attempted to dissuade Yoon after hearing him express his intention to impose martial law. When Yoon remained resolute, Han reportedly suggested hearing opinions from other Cabinet members. Once the quorum of 11 Cabinet members was met, Yoon delivered his intent to impose martial law in a two-minute statement. 'Given the Constitutional Court's March ruling, the central question now may be why the proposal to convene the Cabinet meeting was made in the first place,' the assistant special counsel said. 'It is necessary to determine whether this constituted a failure to fulfill official duties or an active involvement in Yoon's martial law declaration.' The special counsel team had previously summoned Han in early July and carried out search and seizure operations at his and Kang's residences on July 24. If the team applies for a warrant to detain the former prime minister and the court grants it, Han will be the third Cabinet member of the Yoon administration to be detained regarding martial law-related matters, following former Defense Minister Kim and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min.
Korea Herald
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Will ex-PM Han be another Cabinet member to be detained?
Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo attended a questioning Tuesday to comply with a summons by special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team tasked with investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's alleged insurrection and treason. Han, who was summoned as a suspect, arrived at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office at approximately 9:25 a.m. and entered the building without answering questions. Reporters asked whether he maintained his position that he neither participated nor supported Yoon's alleged insurrection. The former prime minister briefly said, 'Thank you for your hard work.' While the special counsel reportedly questioned Han on his alleged role in former President Yoon's martial law declaration on Dec. 3, Tuesday's summons is seen as an effort to build the case ahead of a possible detention of the former prime minister. Han is suspected of both failing to prevent and potentially facilitating the unconstitutional imposition of martial law. According to the Constitution and Government Organization Act, the prime minister supervises ministries on behalf of the president and oversees the ministers' actions. Any proposal made by the defense minister and interior minister to declare martial law must go through the prime minister before it reaches the president. Since Han was in a position involving him in the decision-making process before and after the martial law declaration as the vice chair of the Cabinet meeting, the special counsel team views him as one of the key figures in the alleged insurrection. Han was previously named as an accomplice who attempted to prepare false public documents. According to the special counsel team, former President Yoon fabricated an official martial law document on Dec. 5, two days after declaring martial law. Although the National Assembly lifted martial law within hours, Han and then-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun reportedly backdated the document to make Yoon's declaration appear legally proper. Kang Eui-gu, who at the time was a secretary at the presidential office and drafted the document, reportedly testified in the special counsel investigation that the document was discarded at Han's request and upon Yoon's approval. The decision violated Article 82 of the Constitution, which stipulates that acts of the president under law be executed in writing and that such documents should be signed by the prime minister and Cabinet members concerned. The special counsel team has raised the additional suspicion that Han called former then-ruling People Power Party floor leader Rep. Choo Kyung-ho to interfere with the National Assembly's effort to lift the martial law declaration. Han is also accused of perjury for allegedly claiming during his testimony to the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly that he was unaware of the martial law declaration in printed form until after the decree was lifted. The special counsel team had previously summoned Han in early July and carried out search and seizure operations at his and Kang's residences on July 24. If the team applies for a warrant to detain the former prime minister and the court grants it, Han will be the third Cabinet member of the Yoon administration to be detained regarding martial law-related matters after former Defense Minister Kim and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min.
Korea Herald
02-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Who is S. Korea's new acting President Lee Ju-ho?
Fourth in the line of power succession, Lee now wears four hats: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister for economic affairs, and education minister Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Lee Ju-ho has assumed the role of acing president, following the successive resignations of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok. Lee will serve in the role until the presidential election scheduled for June 3. With his predecessors in the presidential line of succession stepping down one after another, the education policy expert, as the fourth-ranking official in the presidential line of succession, is now overseeing state affairs, including foreign policy, national security and the economy. In his current role, Lee is to simultaneously act as president, prime minister, deputy prime minister for economic affairs and education minister — effectively wearing four hats. Under South Korea's Constitution and Government Organization Act, if the president is unable to perform his or her duties, the line of succession for acting president is as follows: prime minister, deputy prime minister for economic affairs (finance minister), deputy prime minister for social affairs (education minister) and then other Cabinet ministers in a designated order. Lee assumed the role after Yoon's impeachment and removal from office and two subsequent resignations. An economist specializing in labor economics, Lee has served as education minister twice. He previously headed the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology under the Lee Myung-bak administration from 2010-13. Lee was again appointed as education minister in November 2022 under President Yoon Suk Yeol. During Yoon's presidency, Lee spearheaded several major education reforms. He introduced the Neulbom School program, which offers free after-school care for young elementary students, and led efforts to expand medical school admissions by 2,000 seats, which ultimately collapses. He also championed the adoption of digital textbooks, including artificial intelligence-based textbooks implemented this school year. shinjh@
Korea Herald
02-05-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Who is S. Korea's new acting President Lee Ju-ho?
Fourth in the line of power succession, Lee now wears four hats: president, prime minister, deputy prime minister for economic affairs, and education minister Education Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs Lee Ju-ho has assumed the role of acing president, following the successive resignations of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok. Lee will serve in the role until the presidential election scheduled for June 3. With his predecessors in the presidential line of succession stepping down one after another, the education policy expert, as the fourth-ranking official in the presidential line of succession, is now overseeing state affairs, including foreign policy, national security and the economy. In his current role, Lee is to simultaneously act as president, prime minister, deputy prime minister for economic affairs and education minister — effectively wearing four hats. Under South Korea's Constitution and Government Organization Act, if the president is unable to perform his or her duties, the line of succession for acting president is as follows: prime minister, deputy prime minister for economic affairs (finance minister), deputy prime minister for social affairs (education minister) and then other Cabinet ministers in a designated order. Lee assumed the role after Yoon's impeachment and removal from office and two subsequent resignations. An economist specializing in labor economics, Lee has served as education minister twice. He previously headed the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology under the Lee Myung-bak administration from 2010-13. Lee was again appointed as education minister in November 2022 under President Yoon Suk Yeol. During Yoon's presidency, Lee spearheaded several major education reforms. He introduced the Neulbom School program, which offers free after-school care for young elementary students, and led efforts to expand medical school admissions by 2,000 seats, which ultimately collapses. He also championed the adoption of digital textbooks, including artificial intelligence-based textbooks implemented this school year.
