Clash Between Ruling and Opposition Parties After Attempt to Execute Arrest Warrant by Corruption Investigation Office Fails
Both Parties Vow Legal Countermeasures and All-Out Effort
After the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit's attempt to execute an arrest warrant against President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 3rd failed, the political sphere clashed. The Democratic Party of Korea launched comprehensive legal actions, including against the Presidential Security Service, in response to the failed execution attempt. The People Power Party criticized the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit's attempt to execute the arrest warrant as an illegal act.
On the same day, the Democratic Party filed complaints against Park Jong-jun, head of the Presidential Security Service, Kim Seong-hoon, deputy head of the Presidential Security Service, and Lee Kwang-woo, head of the Security Headquarters of the Presidential Security Service, on charges of obstruction of official duties. The Democratic Party's Legal Committee stated, "The arrest and search warrants issued by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit are for the investigation of the rebel ringleader Yoon Suk-yeol, not to harm him. Nevertheless, obstructing Yoon Suk-yeol's arrest cannot be considered within the scope of security," adding, "Preventing the execution of a lawfully issued arrest warrant by the court clearly disregards the national system thoroughly."
The Democratic Party also urged, "The National Investigation Headquarters should respond strongly with strict punishment through thorough investigation."
Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, 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 other hand, the Presidential Security Service responded, "We deeply regret that the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit and the National Investigation Headquarters, without any legal basis, mobilized police riot squads to break down entry doors without the facility manager's permission in the security zone and military confidential facilities, even causing injuries to personnel during unauthorized intrusion," and added, "We will definitely hold the responsible persons and related parties accountable through legal measures for these illegal acts."
Additionally, the Democratic Party demanded active cooperation in law enforcement from Choi Sang-mok, Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. Cho Seung-rae, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said, "Now that the rebel ringleader Yoon Suk-yeol is staging a sit-in at the official residence and inciting civil war, the nation's fate depends on his arrest. However, Acting Prime Minister Choi has remained a bystander until today," urging, "Acting Prime Minister Choi should immediately order the Presidential Security Service to cooperate with the execution of the warrant and use all means to ensure its proper execution." Members of the Democratic Party's Legislation and Judiciary Committee also expressed their protest regarding the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit's withdrawal midway.
Furthermore, the Democratic Party's Legal Committee filed complaints with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit against eight individuals, including Chung Jin-seok, Chief of the Presidential Office, Shin Won-sik, Director of the National Security Office, and Park Jong-jun, head of the Presidential Security Service, on charges of rebellion under the Criminal Act. They explained, "There are reports that Park, head of the Security Service, brought Police Commissioner General Jo Ji-ho and Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong-sik to a safe house about three hours before the emergency martial law was declared on December 3," and "There are also reports that he handed a burner phone to Chief Kim to cooperate in contacting former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun regarding the emergency martial law."
The ruling party also launched a counterattack.
Kwon Young-se, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is attending an emergency press conference held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News.
Kwon Young-se, Emergency Response Committee Chair of the People Power Party, criticized the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit's attempt to execute the arrest warrant in an emergency press conference. Chair Kwon said, "This incident is, in short, an unfair deal between the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit and political judges," and pointed out, "According to Article 84 of the Constitution, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit, which has no investigative authority, obtained the warrant through 'judge shopping.' Moreover, arbitrarily excluding legal provisions is a legislative act by the judiciary, an overreach of judicial power, and a violation of the separation of powers."
Chair Kwon added, "If exceptional procedures are applied just because someone is the sitting president, the public will not agree. The illegal issuance and execution of the arrest warrant not only undermine trust in the judiciary but may also cause national division. We strongly urge the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit and the police to stop overreaching investigative behaviors such as forced warrant execution."
Legal actions also continued. The People Power Party filed complaints with the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency against Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, floor leader Park Chan-dae, and Supreme Council member Kim Min-seok on charges of false accusation and defamation by spreading false information. Joo Jin-woo, legal advisor for the People Power Party, said, "Leader Lee Jae-myung and others clearly know that the charge of inciting rebellion cannot be established, yet they repeatedly file baseless complaints against ruling party lawmakers, distorting the function of the National Assembly," adding, "We intend to correct this through counter-complaints."
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