hankyoreh

Han Duck-soo, the former prime minister under Yoon Suk-yeol, arrives at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office for questioning in a special counsel probe into last year’s martial law crisis on Aug. 19, 2025. (Ryu Jong-woo/Hankyoreh)

Former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo reportedly recanted his previous claim that he had no memory of receiving a copy of the written martial law decree on the day that former President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law. 

According to the Hankyoreh’s findings, while being questioned by investigators working for special counsel Cho Eun-seok, Han said he had received a copy of the martial law declaration from former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

During a National Assembly inquiry in February, Han had said he “had no idea” there was a written martial law declaration until the National Assembly voted to rescind martial law. 

“I then discovered [a copy of] it in the back pocket of my suit pants,” he said at the time. 

During Yoon's impeachment trial, Han testified that he had “no memory” of how the declaration came into his possession. 

Han belatedly recalled receiving the written declaration once the special counsel team began investigating him for potential perjury. 

The team of investigators probing last year’s martial law crisis questioned Han as a suspect for the third time on Friday. The team is actively looking into filing for an arrest warrant for Han after wrapping up its questioning of the former prime minister. 

By Park Chan-hee, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]