Democratic Party "Yoon's Arrest Must Be Executed"... Pressure on Corruption Investigation Office and Security Office

Democratic Party Lawmakers from Legislation, Steering, and Public Safety Committees Gather
Emergency Joint Meeting... "If You Lack Confidence, Refer to the Police"

The Democratic Party of Korea has pressured related agencies to resume the execution of the arrest warrant against President Yoon Seok-yeol. Previously, President Yoon and the Presidential Security Service refused to comply with the arrest issued by the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC), which is investigating President Yoon on charges of rebellion and abuse of power related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident.

On the 4th, the Democratic Party held an emergency joint meeting at the National Assembly, gathering its members from the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, the Steering Committee, and the Public Administration and Security Committee. During the meeting, they demanded the PCC immediately re-execute the arrest warrant and strongly criticized the Presidential Security Service, even mentioning the possibility of 'dissolving the organization.'

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, along with other lawmakers, shout slogans urging the arrest and detention investigation of President Yoon Seok-yeol at an emergency party meeting held at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

Park Seong-jun, the opposition party's floor deputy leader and the Steering Committee's minority whip, said, "Yesterday, South Korea was imprinted worldwide as a country that cannot even properly enforce the law," adding, "PCC Chief Oh Dong-woon should recognize that executing the arrest warrant is a matter tied to the fate of the organization and the nation and work properly." He was referring to the failure to execute the arrest warrant due to resistance from the Presidential Security Service and others the previous day. He warned, "If the execution is blocked again, the Presidential Security Service will disappear into history."

Kim Seung-won, the opposition party's minority whip on the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, said, "Upon hearing the news that the PCC withdrew yesterday, the committee members urgently requested a meeting with the PCC chief," adding, "The PCC chief did not appear, but we were able to hear an explanation from the head of the investigation division. However, the explanation was one of 'lack of will' and 'insufficient preparation.'" He criticized, "One cannot help but ask whether the PCC entered to make an arrest or to obstruct it," and said, "If the PCC cannot arrest President Yoon, it has no reason to exist."

No Jong-myeon, the party's floor spokesperson, met with reporters after the meeting and reiterated pressure on the Presidential Security Service, stating, "The possibility of abolishing the Presidential Security Service through amendments to the Security Act is open." He urged the PCC, "If you lack confidence in executing the arrest warrant, refer the case back to the police."