Prosecutors Begin Execution of Arrest Warrant for President Yoon
Hong Joon-pyo Claims "Abuse of Impeachment Power is a Disruption of National Order"
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Gongsoocheo) has initiated the execution of an arrest warrant against President Yoon Seok-yeol. Meanwhile, Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, criticized, saying, "The entire nation rises up against the president's abuse of emergency martial law powers, so why is there silence regarding Lee Jae-myung's abuse of impeachment rights?" On the 3rd, Mayor Hong posted on his Facebook, "Was there any reason for the abuse of 28 impeachment motions other than the president's impeachment?" and directly targeted Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and the opposition by stating, "If the abuse of emergency martial law powers is a disruption of the national order, isn't the abuse of impeachment rights also a disruption of the national order?"
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) has initiated the execution of an arrest warrant against President Yoon Seok-yeol. Meanwhile, Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, criticized, "The entire nation rises up against the president's abuse of emergency martial law powers, so why is there silence regarding Lee Jae-myung's abuse of the impeachment prosecution right?" Yonhap News Agency
He continued, "If the abuse of emergency martial law powers has thrown the country into chaos, isn't the abuse of impeachment rights pushing the country toward anarchy?" Mayor Hong added, "It has been two years and six months since the country has been led by a hostile symbiotic relationship, with one side clamoring for punishment and the other desperately trying to seize power," and questioned, "Is this a normal country?"
Meanwhile, Gongsoocheo announced at around 8:04 a.m. that day, "The execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon has begun." The investigation team’s vehicle departed from the Government Complex Gwacheon at approximately 6:14 a.m. and arrived in front of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at about 7:21 a.m. Lee Dae-hwan, head prosecutor of the Investigation Division 3 and leader of Gongsoocheo’s Emergency Martial Law Task Force (TF), and the investigation team got out of the vehicle and waited. When the barricade opened at around 8:02 a.m., they entered inside.
On the 3rd, when the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency proceeded to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, supporters of President Yoon Seok-yeol were struggling with the police at the entrance of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
The police deployed about 2,700 personnel from 45 riot police units to maintain order near the presidential residence. President Yoon is accused of declaring unconstitutional and illegal emergency martial law and mobilizing military and police forces to incite a riot with the intent to disrupt the national order (charges of leading a rebellion and abuse of authority). Gongsoocheo applied for an arrest warrant and a search warrant from the court after President Yoon failed to comply with three summonses, and the warrants were issued on the 31st of last month. Approximately 600 supporters (unofficial police estimate) gathered near the presidential residence to hold a rally to prevent President Yoon’s arrest.
Some stayed overnight guarding the area or prayed loudly by the roadside before the rally began. The supporters criticized Gongsoocheo’s execution of the arrest warrant, claiming, "President Yoon Seok-yeol’s martial law is lawful, and the Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung, Gongsoocheo, and illegal and unjust individuals should be arrested." Slogans such as "Illegal warrant null and void" and "Arrest Gongsoocheo" were shouted in various places, and large drums were beaten while chanting "Stay strong, Yoon Seok-yeol" and "Stay strong, Security Office."
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