Yeo "Remove the Chief of Security"… Urges the Public Corruption Investigation Office to Execute the Arrest Warrant

"If Illegal Orders Are Followed at the Security Office, Punishment Will Follow"

The Democratic Party of Korea on the 5th once again criticized the failed execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol two days ago, demanding the suspension of the head of the Presidential Security Service and repeatedly calling for the president's arrest.

Following the previous day, the Democratic Party issued an emergency standby order to its lawmakers and held a party meeting in preparation for the possibility of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit executing the arrest warrant and the resulting rapid changes in the political situation. Park Chan-dae, the floor leader, stated at the party meeting held at the National Assembly, "We have received shocking reports that some loyalist officials of the Security Service gave orders to 'shoot if overwhelmed in a physical struggle' during the execution of Yoon Seok-yeol's arrest warrant," adding, "They are the core forces of an insurrection."

Yonhap News

While the Security Service denied these claims as untrue, Floor Leader Park directed Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok to "immediately suspend Park Jong-jun, head of the Security Service; Kim Seong-hoon, deputy head; and Lee Kwang-woo, head of the Security Headquarters." He further warned the Security Service sternly, stating, "Any acts obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant, including orders to shoot, constitute a second insurrection. Anyone who follows illegal and improper orders from the head of the Security Service or others will be punished together, regardless of who they are."

The Democratic Party also criticized the attitude of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) for withdrawing after a standoff of about five hours and 30 minutes with Security Service personnel during the execution of the arrest warrant, pressing for the swift execution of the warrant, which has only one day left before expiration. Floor Spokesperson Yoon Jong-gun said in a written briefing, "Does the CIO even have the will to execute the warrant?" and urged, "The CIO must arrest the insurrection ringleader Yoon Seok-yeol before it is too late." He raised his voice, saying, "The place where Yoon Seok-yeol should be is not a comfortable residence but an investigation room of the investigative agency. That is the mission of the CIO."

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party strongly criticized the ruling party's claim regarding the effective withdrawal of the insurrection charge in the impeachment trial of President Yoon. The National Assembly initially composed the grounds for impeachment as 'violations of criminal law,' including insurrection, and 'violations of the constitution,' such as breaching the conditions for declaring martial law. However, during the first preparatory hearing of the impeachment trial, the National Assembly side stated that since the impeachment trial is a constitutional court proceeding, they would not specifically examine violations of criminal law but would address them under constitutional violations.

The ruling party is fiercely attacking the opposition, claiming that if the impeachment motion is to be amended, it must be re-approved by the National Assembly. In response, Democratic Party spokesperson Han Min-su said in a written briefing that day, "The grounds for impeachment were organized to determine constitutional violations rather than criminal law violations in the impeachment trial," adding, "It is astonishing how shamelessly they distort the decision to promptly remove Yoon Seok-yeol." Spokesperson Han also used the term 'mental confusion' toward the ruling party and said, "They should shut their shameless mouths."