Opposition Welcomes Yoon's Arrest as "Rule of Law Realized"... Ruling Party Says "Will Hold Legal Responsibility" (Comprehensive)

Democratic Party: "First Step Toward Realizing the Rule of Law"
Party for National Innovation: "Time Has Come for Justice to Be Realized"
Reform New Party: "No Power Is Eternal"
People Power Party: "HCIA Has Lost Its Reason for Existence"

On the 15th, as the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency (HCIA) and the police executed an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, reactions from the ruling and opposition parties diverged. The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, collectively welcomed the move, stating that public authority and the rule of law had been realized. In contrast, the People Power Party condemned the execution of the warrant as illegal and vowed to hold the HCIA legally accountable.

Park Chan-dae, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, welcomed the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon immediately after it was carried out, calling it "the first step toward restoring constitutional order, democracy, and the rule of law." At a party meeting, Park said, "It has been 44 days since the December 3rd insurrection broke out and 33 days since the impeachment motion was passed. Although it is late, it is truly fortunate to confirm that the public authority and justice of the Republic of Korea are still alive."

He added, "Yoon Seok-yeol, as the president who should uphold the constitution and laws, is a serious criminal who violated the constitution and laws by declaring martial law and obstructed the enforcement of public authority through force, turning the Republic of Korea into a lawless land," urging a strict investigation.

The motorcade carrying President Yoon Suk-yeol left the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the 15th and is heading to the Corruption Investigation Office in Gwacheon. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

The Party for National Innovation evaluated, "The time of insurrection has ended, and the time for justice to be realized has arrived." Kim Seon-min, acting party leader of the Party for National Innovation, said at an emergency party meeting, "The leader of the insurrection, Yoon Seok-yeol, has finally been arrested. It is belated but fortunate." Kim emphasized, "Investigative agencies must deeply consider the gravity of this matter and conduct the investigation swiftly and meticulously," adding, "We must not give the insurrection forces even the slightest pretext for counterattack."

Former party leader Cho Guk, who is incarcerated at Seoul Detention Center, also welcomed President Yoon's arrest. Hwang Hyun-seon, secretary-general of the Party for National Innovation, shared a letter from Cho on social media, stating, "The insurrection ringleader Yoon Seok-yeol has been arrested. The people's rightful anger and strong solidarity have triumphed," and added, "The Party for National Innovation has kept its promise that 'three years is too long!'"

Lee Jun-seok, a lawmaker from the Reform New Party, also commented on his social media, saying, "Watching President Yoon's arrest weighs heavily on my heart," but added, "We must once again engrave the truth that everyone is equal before the law and that no power is eternal."

Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 15th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On the other hand, the People Power Party condemned the HCIA's arrest of President Yoon as illegal.

Shin Dong-wook, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized, "The deployment of a large police force for the arrest of a sitting president and the attempt to forcibly clash with the Presidential Security Service is more of a political performance against the people than a normal law enforcement action."

In a statement immediately after the execution of the arrest warrant, Shin said, "The People Power Party, together with the public and legal professionals, will hold the HCIA politically and legally accountable for its massive illegal conduct," and criticized, "Despite lacking jurisdiction to investigate treason, the HCIA applied for the warrant at the Seoul Western District Court instead of the Seoul Central District Court, which has jurisdiction over the case, in a procedural shortcut to forcibly arrest the head of state and sitting president."

He further stated, "The judge in charge of the warrant issued a 'customized search warrant' that practically created law by excluding specific legal provisions," and "even though the second arrest warrant did not include Articles 110 and 111 of the Criminal Procedure Act, the HCIA forcibly executed it, which is a clear violation of the Military Facilities Protection Act and other laws."

Shin emphasized again that "the HCIA, having lost political neutrality, has already lost its reason for existence," and stressed legal countermeasures.

Floor leader Kwon Seong-dong protested, saying, "An unimaginable event occurred in broad daylight in 2025. The HCIA and prosecution executed an unjust and illegal warrant," adding, "The judiciary participated in this illegal warrant execution, and the opposition party intimidated the HCIA and the National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Headquarters. History will surely record this."

Meanwhile, President Yoon was arrested by the HCIA at 10:33 a.m. that day. This marks the first time in constitutional history that a sitting president has appeared before investigative authorities as a suspect.

On 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, including Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kwon Young-se and Floor Leader Kwon Seong-dong, held an emergency emergency response committee meeting at the National Assembly. Photo by Kim Hyun-min