Overview

• The Seoul Central District Court dismissed the special counsel’s request Wednesday to detain Han Duck-soo over his alleged role in the failed Dec. 3 martial law declaration.
• The hearing ran from 1:30 p.m. to about 4:55 p.m., and the court issued its decision roughly eight and a half hours later after reviewing arguments from both sides.
• Prosecutors had sought custody on six counts, including abetting the imposition of martial law, preparing and using falsified public documents, destroying public records, perjury and violating the Act on the Management of Presidential Archives.
• The court noted a 362-page submission from the special counsel but concluded the risk of evidence destruction did not exceed what could be considered part of a defense and found no significant risk of flight.
• Han reportedly denied his charges except for those related to perjury, and he becomes the first former Yoon cabinet member to avoid detention, while ex-Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun and ex-Interior Minister Lee Sang-min remain in custody.