Choi Acting Chief: "There Should Be No Conflict Between Government Agencies in Executing Arrest Warrants"

Choi Sang-mok "Earnest Remarks on Arrest Warrant Execution"
Security Office-Police Clash Concerns Grow, Reiterates Position
'Investigation at Risk of Collapse' Public Corruption Investigation Office Coordinates Re-execution Timing

Choe Sang-mok, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Economy and Finance, is entering the meeting on key economic issues for 2025 held at the Government Seoul Office Building on the 8th. Photo by Yonhap News

Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Strategy and Finance Choi Sang-mok said on the 8th regarding the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, "Under no circumstances should there be any unfortunate incidents such as injuries to citizens or physical clashes between government agencies. Please take every possible measure to prevent this."

Acting President Choi made these remarks during a major issue resolution meeting held at the Government Seoul Office Building in the afternoon, stating, "I earnestly speak regarding the execution of the arrest warrant."

Until now, Acting President Choi has only expressed a principled stance of non-intervention in political matters such as the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon, but recently, as concerns about physical clashes between the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Unit (Gongsoocheo)·police and the Presidential Security Service have grown, he appears to have reiterated his position.

Acting President Choi had previously urged on the 5th, after the first execution of the arrest warrant by the Joint Investigation Headquarters (Gongjobon), "Under no circumstances should public officials be injured while performing their duties in difficult situations," and asked, "Please pay special attention to ensuring that no citizens or public officials are injured during law enforcement."

Although Acting President Choi said today that there should be no "physical clashes between government agencies," a clash with the Security Service seems inevitable if the Joint Investigation Headquarters actually proceeds with the execution of the arrest warrant.

The Security Service has stacked vehicle barriers layer upon layer at the entrance to the driveway leading to the presidential residence in Hannam-dong in preparation for the execution of the arrest warrant, and even surrounded the paths other than the driveway with barbed wire. Security Service Chief Park Jong-jun clearly stated in a statement on the 5th, "I will bear any legal responsibility," and made it clear that they will not comply with any further execution of the arrest warrant.

On the other hand, the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Unit and police, who failed in the first execution, are preparing with determination to succeed this time. The police are considering deploying the police special forces, an anti-terrorism special unit, and even making on-the-spot arrests of Security Service personnel obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant.

The entrance to the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, heading to President Yoon Suk-yeol, was blocked by buses on the morning of the 8th, the day after the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency obtained an arrest warrant for President Yoon. Photo by Yonhap News

In particular, the High-ranking Officials’ Crime Investigation Unit feels great pressure to succeed because if the second attempt to execute the arrest warrant also fails, the investigation into President Yoon could be completely derailed.

On the previous day, Gongsoocheo Chief Oh Dong-woon said at the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee plenary session, "I apologize for showing a damaged rule of law due to the failure to properly execute the arrest warrant," and added, "We will prepare thoroughly with the solemn determination that the second execution will be the last."

If physical clashes escalate during the execution of the arrest warrant, there is an analysis that Acting President Choi, who is currently the highest authority in the government, will find it difficult to avoid responsibility.

Opposition parties such as the Democratic Party are arguing that Acting President Choi, who holds personnel authority, should command the Security Service to prevent clashes between the police and the Security Service, but Acting President Choi has not taken any particular measures.

Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung indirectly requested cooperation in executing the arrest warrant during the party’s supreme council meeting on the morning of the same day, saying, "I hope Acting President Choi will keep in mind the efforts to secure predictability in maintaining law and order and social stability, even to take care of the economy and people’s livelihoods."