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Park Sung-jae, former justice minister, speaks to reporters as he arrives for the first impeachment hearing at the Constitutional Court in Seoul on March 18. / Source: Joint Press Corps

Special Counsel Cho Eun-seok’s team investigating the December 3 martial law incident requested an arrest warrant Thursday for former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae on charges of involvement in key insurrection-related duties and abuse of authority.

Park is accused of failing to stop — and effectively condoning — former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on Dec. 3.

According to investigators, Park was among the first senior officials summoned by Yoon on the day of the declaration. He also attended the Cabinet meeting that deliberated on the proclamation, as well as the following day’s meeting that formally lifted the martial law.

The special counsel’s office said Park bears greater responsibility than other Cabinet members because, as justice minister, he was directly responsible for protecting human rights and upholding the rule of law under the Government Organization Act.

Park, however, has argued that he opposed the martial law during the Cabinet meeting but could not stop it due to Yoon’s insistence.

He is also accused of instructing subordinates to consider dispatching prosecutors to the Joint Investigation Headquarters. Park has denied wrongdoing, claiming the instruction was merely a procedural inquiry to review manpower needs if such a task force were to be formed, not an order to send prosecutors immediately.