▲ Independent Lawmaker Han Dong-hoon
The 2nd General Independent Counsel Team led by Kwon Chang-young, which is investigating remaining allegations following the three major independent counsels, has summoned independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon for questioning.
The special counsel team announced today (August 6) that it has "notified Lawmaker Han to appear as a witness at 10:00 a.m. on August 12."
The special counsel team explained that it plans to question Han regarding the circumstances of his attendance at the ruling party-government-presidency meeting on the afternoon of December 4, 2024—the day after the emergency martial law declaration—the contents discussed at the time, and its connection to subsequent gatherings at the safehouse.
The special counsel team also summoned Bang Ki-sun, former Minister for Government Policy Coordination and an attendee of the party-government-presidency meeting, as a witness today.
The special counsel team suspects that a rationale justifying the emergency martial law was developed during the party-government-presidency meeting and the Samcheong-dong safehouse gathering held on the day the emergency martial law was lifted.
Attendees of the ruling party-government-presidency meeting at the time included Han, who was then leader of the People Power Party; floor leader Choo Kyung-ho; and lawmakers Joo Ho-young, Na Kyung-won, and Kim Gi-hyeon.
From the government side, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Minister of Justice Park Sung-jae, and former Minister Bang attended. From the presidential office, Chief of Staff Jung Jin-suk, National Security Office Director Shin Won-shik, and Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Chul-ho were present.
Attending an emergency general meeting of lawmakers held at the National Assembly following the party-government-presidency meeting, Lawmaker Han told reporters that "martial law cannot be a warning" and mentioned that he conveyed the demand for former President Yoon Suk Yeol to leave the party to Prime Minister Han and Chief of Staff Jung.
Previously, the 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan), while sentencing former Minister Park to 25 years in prison, ruled that plans to counter the impeachment motion and investigation against former President Yoon were discussed at the party-government-presidency meeting on December 4, 2024.
The court pointed out that former Minister Park instructed Lim Se-jin, former head of the Ministry of Justice's prosecution division, to draft a document justifying martial law, and that attendees of the safehouse gathering formulated a rationale regarding the legitimacy and inevitability of the emergency martial law based on this document, reporting it to former President Yoon.
In response to the special counsel's explanation, Lawmaker Han issued a statement today, rebutting that "the political special counsel of the Lee Jae-myung administration is engaging in media play" and adding, "I have not received any such notification for witness summons."
Han stated, "Even though I was the ruling party leader on the day of martial law, I took the lead more than anyone else in blocking it." He added, "After placing a travel ban on me without any reason during the election period and arbitrarily extending it for months without ever calling me in once, they are now resorting to showy media play. I have no intention of cooperating with the political investigation attempted by the political special counsel of the Lee Jae-myung administration."
Around 4:30 p.m., the special counsel team announced via a press notice, "The postal summons for Lawmaker Han Dong-hoon as a witness regarding the party-government-presidency meeting and safehouse gathering was received by his lawmaker office today."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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