PPP Judiciary Committee Members to Actively Consider Impeachment of Judge Who Issued Arrest Warrant for Yoon

"Acted Beyond the Scope of Authority"
"Opposition to Special Prosecutor Due to Unconstitutionality"

Members of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the People Power Party stated that they would actively consider, in consultation with the party leadership, the impeachment of the judge who issued an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Yonhap News

On January 2, at the National Assembly, Yoo Sangbum, a member of the People Power Party, told reporters that he believes impeachment is warranted when asked whether disciplinary action is necessary against the judge in charge of issuing warrants. He added, "The judge, in issuing the warrant, acted beyond the scope of authority prescribed by law."

When asked whether he thinks President Yoon should refuse to comply with the arrest warrant, Yoo replied, "Everyone is equal before the law, but the law must be legitimate and have proper procedures and legitimacy. If the warrant of execution is illegal, I believe it should be enforced only with a lawful warrant."

Regarding President Yoon's lack of cooperation with the investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), Yoo stated, "Currently, the CIO does not have the authority to investigate an incumbent president for abuse of power," and added, "Investigating rebellion charges just because they are related to abuse of power is a case of confusing the tail with the body." Yoo further explained that, since the CIO does not have investigative authority over either the rebellion or abuse of power charges against President Yoon, it is lawful to transfer the investigation to the police.

When asked whether the People Power Party should simply agree to the special prosecutor bill on rebellion, Yoo answered, "The reason we oppose the special prosecutor itself is because it is unconstitutional, not because we oppose the idea of a special prosecutor." In response to a question about whether there are plans to propose a special prosecutor bill that removes the unconstitutional elements, he said, "That is a matter for us to make a political decision on within the party," and added, "When selecting the subject of a special prosecutor, there must be thorough discussion. If changes to the investigation target are not discussed, we cannot accept the special prosecutor."

The CIO obtained an arrest warrant for President Yoon on December 31 of last year, but has not yet executed the warrant.