"Yoon's Warrant Execution, Clear Criminal Act... Must Stop Immediately"

Kwon Young-se: "It will be broadcast live worldwide... What an embarrassment"
If President Yoon is arrested, the party plans to hold a general assembly and emergency committee meeting to respond

As the second arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol is being executed, the People Power Party has called for an immediate halt, claiming the execution of the warrant is illegal. They also emphasized that if any physical clashes occur during the warrant execution process, all responsibility lies with the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (Gongsoocheo) and the police.

In the early morning of the 15th, when the execution of the second arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol began, the leadership of the People Power Party held a closed-door meeting at the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the morning of the 15th, Kwon Young-se, the emergency response committee chairman of the People Power Party, said after an emergency meeting at the National Assembly, "Searching and arresting in areas where searches are not allowed is an overall illegal warrant, so forcibly executing it is a clear criminal act." He added, "The warrant itself is problematic," pointing out, "Gongsoocheo requested and obtained the warrant without investigative authority, and it was granted by a court that also lacks jurisdiction."

Chairman Kwon said, "(The warrant execution process) will be broadcast live worldwide, so what kind of embarrassment is this?" He added, "I believe Gongsoocheo and the police should stop immediately. Gongsoocheo and the police must clearly take responsibility for everything that happens if they do not stop." When asked how they would hold them accountable if physical clashes occur, he replied, "We intend to hold them responsible to the fullest extent possible, including criminal liability."

Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, also argued that legal responsibility should be held against Gongsoocheo and the Security Office. Floor leader Kwon said, "The arrest warrant does not state that Articles 110 and 111 of the Criminal Procedure Act are excluded," adding, "In other words, the presidential residence is a national security facility and a military protection facility, so entry into the residence without the consent of the person in charge is prohibited."

He continued, "Gongsoocheo and the Security Office are in a standoff, and the standoff between agencies itself makes the public uneasy, which is not the attitude of government agencies serving the people," adding, "There are various legal controversies regarding the execution of the warrant, but if Gongsoocheo forcibly proceeds despite the controversies, they must clearly bear legal responsibility for that."

Although the morning emergency response committee meeting has ended, the People Power Party plans to hold a party members' meeting or reconvene the emergency response committee to respond depending on future developments, such as President Yoon being arrested.