Kwon Seong-dong "Should Refrain from Reckless Attempt to Arrest the President"
Repeats Previous Position, Chooses Words Carefully
Yoon Sang-hyun, Kim Min-jeon Participate in Anti-Impeachment Protest
Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, on the 3rd repeated the fundamental statement that "the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) has no authority to investigate treason and should transfer the case to the police" as the HCIA executed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol. While the People Power Party leadership maintains a stance of drawing a line on judicial issues involving President Yoon, it appears they are concerned about losing hardline supporters who oppose the president's impeachment.
At the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd, Floor Leader Kwon said, "We hope the HCIA refrains from an unreasonable attempt to arrest a sitting president," adding, "We hope the president's appearance proceeds at an appropriate time and through lawful procedures in dialogue with the president." He then reiterated the usual argument that the HCIA lacks authority to investigate treason and raised the issue that the warrant was issued by the Seoul Western District Court.
On the morning of the 3rd, as officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials arrived at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, supporters were holding an anti-impeachment rally along the roadside near the residence. Photo by Heo Young-han
The People Power Party was unable to issue a statement until just before the HCIA attempted to enter the presidential residence to execute the arrest warrant for President Yoon. Park Soo-min, the party's floor spokesperson, told reporters after the meeting, "We are watching calmly as the judicial procedures proceed within constitutional processes," and added, "Judiciary is judiciary, and our basic stance is to assist in stabilizing state affairs." When asked if the party would issue a statement after the warrant execution was completed, Park replied, "I don't know," repeating the existing position that "the judiciary should proceed calmly and stably within lawful procedures so that there are minimal variables affecting state affairs and people's livelihoods."
Analysts suggest that the People Power Party leadership's inability to raise their voices is due to the burden of protests by hardline supporters. Supporters have gathered in front of the Hannam-dong presidential residence to block the execution of the arrest warrant, holding daily protests. The anti-impeachment atmosphere has intensified as President Yoon sent messages to supporters stating he will "fight to the end." Lawmakers such as Yoon Sang-hyun and Kim Min-jeon, who served as a Supreme Council member, also participated in the protests.
Yoon Sang-hyun drew attention by entering the residence at the time the warrant was executed that morning. Through his social media, Yoon stated, "The execution of an arrest warrant against a sitting president seriously undermines the constitution and the rule of law," and claimed, "Odong-woon, head of the HCIA, and Lee Soon-hyung, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Western District Court, should be impeached immediately."
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