Insurrection Special Counsel Submits Opinion Raising Concerns Over Han Duck-soo's Release... "Possibility of Failing to Appear at Trial"

Submitted to court ahead of the Nov. 20 detention period expiration
"Concerns over his whereabouts and court appearances after release"
Also considering submitting an opinion to the Supreme Court in favor of conditional bail

The special counsel team led by Cho Eun-seok, which is investigating the insurrection, submitted an opinion to the court expressing concern about the release of former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, whose detention period is set to expire on Nov. 20.

The second-trial sentencing hearing for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is accused of playing a key role in the insurrection related to the Dec. 3 emergency martial law declaration, is being broadcast live on television. Yonhap News Agency

According to legal sources on Nov. 13, the special counsel team submitted the previous day an opinion titled "Comments on the Expiration of Han Duck-soo's Detention in a Separate Case Before Sentencing" to the 33rd Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Jin-gwan.

The panel is hearing a separate case in which Han was indicted over allegations that he failed to appoint and nominate Constitutional Court justices. The first-instance verdict in the case is scheduled for Nov. 30, and the special counsel team sought a five-year prison sentence for Han at the final hearing in August.

The special counsel team reportedly raised concerns in its opinion that Han could be released on Nov. 20 unless there are exceptional circumstances, potentially disrupting his attendance at future court proceedings. In particular, it is said to have mentioned the possibility that his whereabouts could become difficult to ascertain after his release or that he might fail to appear on the sentencing date.

The special counsel team is also considering submitting a separate opinion to the Supreme Court. Its position is that, even if the expiration of his detention period is unavoidable, bail should be granted subject to effective conditions.

Han was previously indicted on charges of involvement in the insurrection, including by proposing that a Cabinet meeting be held during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison at his first trial and detained in court. On appeal, his sentence was reduced to 15 years.

The Supreme Court en banc, which is currently hearing the case, is scheduled to hold its second deliberation session on Nov. 19, one day before Han's detention period expires. Han is expected to be released the following day unless separate grounds for his detention arise.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.