South Korea police questioned acting president Han over martial law decree

20/12/2024 16:24

South Korean police have questioned Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo as part of an investigation into the short-lived decision this month to impose martial law, an official at his office said on Friday.



The acting president was among 12 people present at a cabinet meeting on Dec. 3 shortly before President Yoon Suk Yeol's shock late-night announcement on martial law. Nine of those people have been questioned by a special police unit investigating the case, the Yonhap news agency reported.



Han, a career technocrat, became acting president after Yoon was impeached on Saturday following a parliamentary vote. The official at Han's office did not say when he was questioned, but said it took place before Han was appointed acting president.



He was being investigated as a suspect, Yonhap reported.



Earlier this month, the main opposition Democratic Party reported Han to police after accusing him of insurrection.



Han has previously said he had opposed the martial law declaration, which Yoon withdrew after barely six hours when outraged lawmakers rejected his decree.



Yoon faces a Constitutional Court trial on whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential powers following his impeachment.