Kwon Young-se, on Presidential Office Resignation: "Hope Actions Were Taken for National Stability"

Yoon Arrest Video Execution Must Ensure "No Human Casualties"

Kwon Young-se, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, commented on June 1 regarding the resignation of senior aides at the Presidential Office, stating, "I hope the Presidential Office, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Cabinet all carefully consider what is necessary for national stability and make decisions and take actions in that direction."

Yonhap News

On the same day at the Yeouido party headquarters, Chairman Kwon said, "Since my inauguration, there are several priorities the party is focusing on, and the first is national stability."

On that day, Jeong Jin-seok, Chief of Staff to the President, along with Sung Tae-yoon, Director of the Policy Office, Shin Won-sik, Director of the National Security Office, Jang Ho-jin, Foreign and Security Special Advisor, and all senior secretaries tendered their resignations to Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. This is interpreted as a protest against Choi Sang-mok’s appointment of two Constitutional Court justices.

Regarding this, Chairman Kwon said, "Since the executive branch is facing difficulties, as the ruling party, we will prioritize national stability. However, yesterday’s appointment of Constitutional Court justices is regrettable," adding, "There will be responsibility and evaluation." He also stated that among the three candidates for Constitutional Court justice, the other candidate recommended by the Democratic Party, Ma Eun-hyuk, will not be subject to consultation with the opposition party.

On the same day, Oh Dong-woon, Chief of the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Unit, expressed his intention to execute President Yoon Seok-yeol’s arrest warrant in accordance with principles. Chairman Kwon responded, "Throughout the entire process, we must ensure that there are no casualties," and added, "I plan to appropriately discuss this with the police and related parties." The day before, Chairman Kwon had said, "It is very regrettable that an arrest warrant was requested and issued during a national mourning period when the sitting president poses no risk of evidence destruction or flight."