50-Year-Old Suspect in Police Assault Near Yoon Residence Denied Arrest Warrant

A detention warrant for a man in his 50s who assaulted police officers at a rally held near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, was dismissed by the court.

On the 8th, Shin Han-mi, the judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Western District Court, held a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) for Mr. A, in his 50s, who is accused of obstructing official duties, and dismissed the detention warrant.

The court ruled, "The suspect has a fixed residence, and most of the basic evidence regarding the criminal charges has been collected, so there is no concern about evidence tampering."

Mr. A was caught in the act by police on the afternoon of the 5th, around 4 p.m., for punching a police officer's left ear at a rally calling for impeachment held near the presidential residence.

Earlier, the National Police Agency had announced a strict response, stating that four cases of police officer assaults occurred during rallies in the Hannam-dong area on the 4th and 5th.

Amid the reissuance of an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol on charges of treason related to martial law, conservative group members are holding a rally near the presidential residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 8th, urging opposition to the arrest of President Yoon. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung