First Arrest of Solo Protester in Front of Moon's Residence After Retirement... "Threatened with a Weapon" vs "Only Prepared for a Protest"

Police arresting a solo protester in front of the presidential residence in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan City.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] A solo protester, Mr. A, who threatened former President Moon Jae-in and his wife as well as secretariat officials with a weapon and was caught by the police as a suspect, was detained around 10 p.m. on the 18th.

Chief Judge Choi Woonsung of Ulsan District Court issued an arrest warrant for Mr. A, in his 60s, who is accused of special threats and other charges, stating, "There is a risk of evidence destruction and flight."

According to Yangsan Police Station in Gyeongnam on the 19th, Mr. A was preparing for a solo protest in front of former President Moon's residence in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan City, on the 16th when he threatened secretariat officials with a weapon and was arrested by the police.

On the previous day, the 15th, he reportedly told former President Moon and his wife, who were out for a walk with a bodyguard, "How dare you crawl out without fear," which led to a complaint filed by Mrs. Kim Jung-sook.

At the time of arrest, Mr. A was preparing for the protest by setting up a banner and was holding a cutter knife but claimed he did not swing it.

Lawyer Mr. B, who provided legal counsel to the accused, reportedly refuted the claims in an interview with a certain media outlet, saying, "The facts have been distorted."

Mr. B stated, "Mr. A was holding the cutter knife to prepare for the setup, not to threaten anyone," and added, "The tool he was holding to install the banner was misrepresented as a weapon."

Mr. A has been conducting a solo protest since May 10, when former President Moon moved into his residence, and is known to be one of the four protesters whom former President Moon filed complaints against on May 31 for charges including insult and threats.