The Corruption Investigation Office confronts the Presidential Security Service for about 5 hours and 30 minutes
Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, expressed regret over President Yoon Seok-yeol's refusal to comply with the arrest by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (HCOCID) and urged that the arrest attempt be made again.
Democratic Party of Korea Floor Leader Park Chan-dae is announcing his position on the suspension of the arrest warrant execution at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News
On the 3rd, at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Floor Leader Park said, "The HCOCID has suspended the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon, who is accused of rebellion. This is very regrettable," adding, "The public must have witnessed today’s situation and reconfirmed President Yoon’s pettiness and sordidness." He continued, "His statement that he would fulfill legal and political responsibilities was a blatant lie," emphasizing, "I even feel a great sense of sorrow seeing him evade lawful law enforcement and hide inside the presidential residence."
Floor Leader Park pointed out that the HCOCID should attempt to arrest President Yoon again. He argued, "The HCOCID must immediately proceed with the arrest of President Yoon, who is accused of rebellion," and "The most urgent matter is to swiftly arrest the rebel to overcome the crisis our country is facing."
He also stated that anyone obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant, such as blocking access to the presidential residence, should be immediately arrested as a flagrante delicto. Floor Leader Park said, "Anyone who obstructs official duties, including the Chief of Security, Deputy Chief of Security, Head of Security Headquarters, and department heads, should be regarded as accomplices in rebellion," and "They should be arrested on the spot on charges of special obstruction of official duties, concealment of a criminal, and abuse of authority."
On the same day, the HCOCID attempted to execute the arrest warrant for President Yoon in front of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, but withdrew after a standoff of about five hours and thirty minutes with the Presidential Security Service. The HCOCID stated, "Future measures will be reviewed and decided," and expressed "deep regret over the suspect’s attitude of not complying with the procedures prescribed by law."
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