**Han Duck-soo, Former Prime Minister, Silent During Press Q&A Before Attendance… “Does Not Wish for a Jury Trial”**
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporters Han Juhong and Lee Doheun – The first trial for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is facing charges of aiding a leader of an insurrection, began on the 30th.
Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 33 (Presiding Judge Lee Jinkwan) held the first trial at 10 a.m. for former Prime Minister Han, who has been indicted without detention on charges including aiding a leader of an insurrection, perjury, and the creation and use of false official documents.
Former Prime Minister Han arrived at the court around 9:35 a.m. He did not respond to reporters’ questions such as “What are your thoughts on attending the first trial?” “How do you plan to clarify the charges of not fulfilling your constitutional duty to prevent an insurrection?” and “Do you maintain that you never received any documents related to martial law?”
Entering the courtroom around 9:38 a.m., Han moved from a spectator seat to the defendant’s seat at about 10 a.m.
During the identification confirmation process, Han answered, “June 18, 1949, unemployed,” when asked about his date of birth and profession. He stated that he does not wish for a jury trial.
The trial is expected to proceed with opening statements and evidence examination. The prosecutors will read the summary of charges from the special insurrection investigation team, followed by the defendant’s statement and evidence examination.
The court allowed recordings in the courtroom, and about a minute of filming was conducted before the official start of the trial. The trial proceedings are also permitted to be broadcasted, and after the conclusion and the anonymization process, the footage will be released online. However, the evidence examination related to the CCTV footage from the Presidential Office on the day of the December 3 emergency martial law will not be included in the broadcast.
The presiding judge explained, “Considering the social and national significance of this case, we have allowed limited recordings and filming to ensure the public’s right to know while protecting the defendant’s privacy and safety before the trial begins. Today’s trial will be filmed and broadcast by a third party commissioned by the court, not by a broadcaster.”
As the former Prime Minister, a key governmental figure, Han is accused of failing to prevent and supporting the president’s arbitrary abuse of power, specifically in relation to the illegal declaration of martial law.
He is also accused of creating and then destroying an amended declaration to cover legal deficiencies in the initial martial law declaration. Furthermore, he is charged with perjury by testifying as a witness during the Constitutional Court’s impeachment hearing for former President Yoon, stating he was unaware of the martial law declaration.