"Failed to Arrest Yoon, So Why Laugh?" "Probably a Nervous Laugh"… Controversy Over the Expressions of the Corruption Investigation Office and Police

A Woman and a Man from the Investigation Team Came Down Smiling, Claiming So

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Hoegigongjikja Beomjoe Susa Cheo, Gongsoocheo), which attempted to arrest President Yoon Seok-yeol, failed to execute the warrant due to resistance from the Presidential Security Service and others, sparking controversy over claims that Gongsoocheo and the police laughed while withdrawing.

Earlier, Gongsoocheo was criticized for a possible 'operational failure' after spending more than five hours waiting in front of the door on the 3rd without breaking through the blockade. Subsequently, several online communities posted articles titled "Laughing while failing and withdrawing?"

Some netizens claimed that after the arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol was not executed, officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the police withdrew while laughing. Screenshot from an online community

On that day, Gongsoocheo succeeded in entering the grounds of President Yoon’s residence but was blocked from entering the interior of the residence building by the 55th Security Unit of the Army Capital Defense Command, responsible for outer perimeter security, and the Presidential Security Service. The investigation team entered the residence grounds around 8:04 a.m. A total of 100 personnel, including 20 Gongsoocheo members and 80 police officers, were deployed to execute the arrest warrant at the residence.

However, the investigation team was blocked from entering the residence three times and approached within 200 meters of the residence building but halted the warrant execution citing safety concerns. The team’s withdrawal was captured on camera, and some netizens claimed that a woman and a man among the investigation team were laughing as they came down, sharing the footage online.

On the 3rd, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency executed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol. At the presidential residence premises in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, personnel from the Presidential Security Service blocked the iron gate with a vehicle. Photo by Yonhap News.

Netizens criticized their expressions, commenting, "Did they just go for a stroll?", "Hands in pockets, casually coming out? Meanwhile, citizens protest outside in the cold for days," "Did they go for a drink?", "They’re laughing thinking about their next meal," "They’re clearly in cahoots," "They must find this situation amusing," "Did they go sightseeing at the residence? Their attire lacks any intimidation," "In this country, even if a warrant is issued for a crime, if you resist, you’ll get away with it."

There were also voices arguing that the investigation team’s expressions should not be criticized. They said, "The field agents probably did not sympathize with the rebellion. After working hard from dawn and then coming down without accomplishing anything due to orders from above, I would also laugh out of disbelief," defending the team. They added, "I don’t want to criticize them for that. They might be laughing because they’re baffled," and "What fault do the lower-ranking members have?"

Meanwhile, President Yoon faces charges of declaring an unconstitutional and illegal martial law and mobilizing military and police forces to incite a riot with the intent to disrupt the constitutional order (charges of rebellion leader and abuse of authority). After President Yoon failed to comply with three summonses, Gongsoocheo requested arrest and search warrants from the court, which were issued on the 31st of last month.