Court accepts special counsel's request to question ex-PPP leader as witness

Han Dong-hoon, former leader of the conservative People Power Party, speaks during a party event in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, Thursday. Yonhap

A Seoul court has accepted a request from a special counsel team investigating former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law case to summon Han Dong-hoon, a former leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), to be questioned in court as a witness later this month, legal sources said Friday.

The decision came after Han repeatedly ignored calls from special counsel Cho Eun-suk's team to appear for questioning as a witness.

The Seoul Central District Court issued a summons for Han to appear on Sept. 23, in line with the special counsel team's request, according to the sources. Former PPP floor leader Choo Kyung-ho was also notified of the schedule.

If Han fails to attend, the court may impose a fine of up to 5 million won (US$3,600).

Han, who was leading the ruling PPP at the time of the martial law declaration on Dec. 3, is considered a key figure in the special counsel's probe into alleged insurrection charges.

Choo, then PPP floor leader, is accused of obstructing lawmakers from participating in a vote to revoke Yoon's martial law declaration by repeatedly changing the venue of an emergency meeting that night at Yoon's request.

Separately, the court will hold a hearing to decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for PPP Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, after the National Assembly approved a motion for his arrest on bribery charges on Thursday.

Last month, a separate special counsel investigating allegations linked to former first lady Kim Keon Hee sought the warrant, accusing Kweon of receiving 100 million won in illegal political funds from a former Unification Church official in 2022 in return for supporting the church.