Han Duck-soo's 15-year Sentence Appeals to Special Prosecutor; Kim Tae-hyo Summoned

Special Prosecutor Appeals Han Duck-soo's 15-Year Sentence in Second Trial; Kim Tae-hyo First Summoned for Investigation

The Special Prosecutor's team has filed an appeal against the 15-year prison sentence handed down in the second trial for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was indicted on charges including "engaging in important duties for sedition." This case, related to the December 3 Emergency Martial Law incident, is gaining further legal significance due to the appeal, considering its impact on national security and political circles at the time. The Special Prosecutor's team submitted the appeal documents to the Criminal Division 12-1 of the Seoul High Court on the 13th, requesting a reconsideration of the second trial's verdict. Concurrently, the second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor team, investigating various allegations that have surfaced since the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, has summoned Kim Tae-hyo, former First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, for questioning. The Comprehensive Special Prosecutor team is focusing its investigation on allegations that Kim Tae-hyo conveyed messages to allies, including the United States, explaining the necessity of implementing martial law. ### Martial Law Investigation Expected to Stir Political Waters This appeal by the Special Prosecutor and the summoning of Kim Tae-hyo are interpreted as moves to go beyond mere legal judgment of individual cases and instead clarify the decision-making processes and accountability during the national crisis at the time. The second trial ruling for former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo centered on the charges of engaging in important duties for sedition, with high public interest in his role and the background of the emergency martial law declaration. The Special Prosecutor team's decision to appeal the second trial verdict suggests that there are issues that were not addressed or inadequately judged in the first and second trials. Furthermore, the summoning of former National Security Office First Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo is seen as an intention to meticulously scrutinize the role of the presidential office's security line at the time. The 'message justifying martial law to Trump' allegation could serve as a crucial clue revealing how the nation's highest security decisions were communicated and influenced externally. The Comprehensive Special Prosecutor team is expected to thoroughly investigate the facts behind these allegations, examining Kim Tae-hyo on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of the exercise of rights. The progression of these two cases could be recorded as significant events in Korea's political history, with the pursuit of accountability for those involved likely to become more concrete. ### Presidential Office Relocation Favoritism Probe: Audit Board Among Locations Searched Meanwhile, the second Comprehensive Special Prosecutor team is also concurrently investigating allegations of favoritism during the relocation of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's presidential residence. To this end, coercive searches have been initiated at four locations, including the Audit Board and the residence of Audit Commissioner Yoo Byung-ho. These searches are part of an effort to investigate the legality of the 'Presidential Office and Residence Relocation' audit conducted between 2022 and 2024. The Special Prosecutor team has summoned Yoon Jae-soon, former Presidential Secretary for General Affairs, as a suspect for related questioning. Yoon Jae-soon is facing charges of abuse of power, including alleged misappropriation of funds and involvement of unqualified individuals during the residence relocation process. This investigation is anticipated to be a crucial opportunity not only to address procedural issues but also to reaffirm the transparency and fairness of national budget execution and the scope of responsibility for high-ranking public officials. The inclusion of the Audit Board as a subject of investigation could lead to a verification of cooperation between government agencies and the independence and objectivity of the audit process. ### Legislative Trends: AI Personal Data Protection Act Amendment Passes Committee, Military Service Act Amendment Proposed to Prevent Brain Drain in Advanced Industries Legislative activities are also actively underway within the political sphere. The National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee has passed an amendment to the Personal Data Protection Act, which allows for the use of personal data for artificial intelligence (AI) technology development, following review by the Subcommittee on Legislation 1 and the plenary session. This amendment is part of efforts to find a balance between the growth of the AI industry and the protection of personal data, focusing on establishing a legal basis suitable for the new technological development environment. As AI technology development accelerates and data utilization becomes increasingly important, follow-up measures to clearly define the scope of personal data use while preventing misuse are expected to become crucial. Additionally, Representative Yoo Yong-won of the People Power Party has proposed an amendment to the Military Service Act aimed at preventing key talent in national strategic advanced industries from leaving research fields or emigrating due to military service regulations. This bill is proposed with the objective of ensuring the continuous research activities of personnel in advanced industries and strengthening national competitiveness. Securing talent in future industries such as semiconductors, biotechnology, and AI is a critical national task, and this proposed amendment to the Military Service Act reflects this strategic importance. The Special Prosecutor investigations are expected to continue, focusing on contentious issues. The results of the appeal trial for the former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo case, along with the outcomes of investigations related to former Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo and former Secretary Yoon Jae-soon, will significantly influence the historical evaluation of the decision-making processes within the political circles of that time. Furthermore, the investigation into favoritism allegations related to the presidential office relocation could serve as an opportunity to enhance transparency and accountability in the public sector. The amendment to the Personal Data Protection Act for AI development is likely to be finalized and passed after the remaining parliamentary review process, providing a predictable legal environment for related industries. The proposed amendment to the Military Service Act is also expected to be debated, responding to the societal demand to alleviate the talent shortage in advanced industries. The passage of these bills and their specific details are anticipated to have a direct impact on future industrial competitiveness and national development strategies.