"Key Details of Arrest and Search Warrants for 'Leader of Rebellion' Yoon [AK Radio]"

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Office (HOGO) has confirmed that the arrest and search warrants issued by the Seoul Western District Court for President Yoon Seok-yeol explicitly stated that "there are circumstances that reasonably suspect the suspect committed crimes such as leading a rebellion." The validity period of the arrest and search warrants for former President Yoon, issued on the 7th, lasts until the 21st.

On the 15th, the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit and the Police Emergency Martial Law Special Investigation Team proceeded to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol. Police officers are crossing the second blockade line at the presidential residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung

HOGO specified three reasons why a search is necessary in the warrant. First, it is difficult to track the movements and whereabouts due to the suspect’s status as the sitting president; second, the nature of burner phones limits real-time identification of the transmitting base station location; third, it is difficult to obtain location tracking data for mobile phones used before the presidency. For these reasons, HOGO judged that searches are necessary not only at the presidential residence but also at the private residence and safe houses?any place where former President Yoon is expected to be. This is also interpreted as reflecting concerns about potential evidence tampering.

According to the search warrant, HOGO confirmed key charges through testimonies from key figures such as former Army Chief of Staff (Martial Law Commander) Park Wan-su, former Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun, former National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Ji-ho, and former Seoul Police Chief Kim Bong-sik. Their testimonies revealed specific criminal facts including △illegal declaration of martial law △illegal issuance of proclamations △blockade of the National Assembly △obstruction of voting on the lifting of martial law △illegal arrest of ruling and opposition party leaders.

※Click the video to learn more details.

In particular, it was pointed out that former President Yoon proceeded with the declaration of martial law despite being fully aware that the conditions for such a declaration were not met. Additionally, the allegation that he intended to use martial law to investigate suspicions of election fraud in the 22nd general election was highlighted as a notable charge.

HOGO judged that former President Yoon conspired with key figures such as Kim Yong-hyun, Park Wan-su, and Yeo In-hyung to organize an armed rebellion aimed at excluding state power and disrupting the constitutional order. This included △controlling the access of National Assembly members to the National Assembly building △armed martial law troops entering the National Assembly premises △threatening members and their aides △attempting to enter the plenary session hall where the resolution to lift martial law was being processed △attempting to arrest and detain key figures such as National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik, Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, and then People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon △ordering inspections of the National Election Commission and searches of the Information Management Bureau server room using armed martial law troops.

The warrant also noted that the majority of attendees at the Cabinet meeting convened on December 3 last year, the day martial law was declared, expressed opposition.

The Yoon Seok-yeol presidential camp claims the warrants are "illegal." However, given the lack of significant resistance from the Presidential Security Service during the execution of the second arrest warrant, it is expected that the warrants will be executed soon.