Court denies arrest warrant for ex-PM Han over martial law allegations

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, Seoul, after his arrest warrant hearing, Wednesday. Yonhap

A Seoul court on Wednesday rejected a warrant to arrest former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo over his alleged role in former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched imposition of martial law.

The Seoul Central District Court denied the warrant sought by the team of special counsel Cho Eun-suk, saying there is room for legal dispute regarding key facts and the legal assessment of the suspect's actions.

Han is facing charges of abetting the ringleader of an insurrection, falsifying and destroying official documents, perjury and other offenses.

Earlier in the day, Han arrived at the court shortly before the hearing and entered the building without answering reporters' questions.

Han is accused of abetting Yoon's imposition of martial law by proposing a Cabinet meeting before the decree's declaration.

He is also suspected of drafting and later destroying a revised proclamation intended to enhance the legitimacy of the decree.

Moreover, he is accused of lying under oath at the Constitutional Court and the National Assembly that he was not aware Yoon had given him a copy of the martial law declaration until after the decree was lifted.

Two other Cabinet members of the Yoon administration — former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min — had been arrested in connection with the martial law attempt in December.