Special counsel questions ex-PM, other ministers in martial law probe

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, left, and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun appear for questioning at the special counsel team's office on Wednesday. Yonhap

A special prosecutor investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed bid to impose martial law Wednesday summoned former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and two other ministers, in a widening probe into then Cabinet members on the night of martial law imposition.

Special counsel Cho Eun-suk has been checking whether Yoon abused his power or some Cabinet ministers cooperated with the botched martial law bid on Dec. 3 last year, when the ousted president imposed martial law.

Han and Industry Minister Ahn Duk-geun appeared for questioning earlier in the day, but they declined to comment to reporters upon entering the special counsel's office.

Cho's team has been looking into allegations that another document on martial law declaration was written shortly after Yoon declared martial law.

Han reportedly signed the document drafted by Kang Eui-gu, former secretary at the presidential office, but later requested it to be discarded.

The special counsel team later summoned Science and ICT Minister Yoo Sang-im and questioned him over his attendance or absence at Cabinet meetings held around Yoon's declaration of martial law.

Yoo is known to have been absent from the meeting that took place shortly before the declaration but present at the meeting convened hours later to lift the order.

The questioning came as Yoon's lawyers said the former president will appear for the special counsel team's second round of questioning Saturday.