CIO Executes Arrest Warrant for Yoon
"Worried About How This Will Be Resolved"
"Everyone Is Equal Before the Law... Hoping for a Great Leap Forward"
As an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol was executed, Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City, and Lee Jun-seok, member of the Reform New Party, expressed their thoughts on the matter.
On the 15th, Mayor Hong opened his remarks on his social media account by saying, "The first-ever arrest of a sitting president. It feels like some country in South America." He continued, "They could have waited to see the results of the impeachment process, but the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) issued an invalid warrant despite having no investigative authority. Was that really necessary?" He claimed, "Unlike during Park Geun-hye's time, a significant portion of the public opposes the arrest." He then expressed concern, saying, "I worry about how this will be resolved going forward."
Lee Jun-seok, Member of the Reform New Party. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
Lawmaker Lee also shared his feelings on SNS, stating, "Seeing President Yoon's arrest weighs heavily on my heart." He said, "We must once again remember the truth that everyone is equal before the law and that no power is eternal," adding, "I hope the wounds of the tragedy we are experiencing today will become a great leap forward for the future of the Republic of Korea."
Earlier, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the police began executing the arrest warrant around 4:20 a.m. that day. The police deployed 1,200 personnel from the National Police Agency’s Special Investigation Unit and the Seoul, Southern Gyeonggi, Northern Gyeonggi, and Incheon Metropolitan Investigation Units, while the CIO sent 40 prosecutors and investigators. They presented the arrest and search warrants to President Yoon’s legal team, but lawyer Yoon Gap-geun argued, "There are no exceptions under Articles 110 and 111 of the Criminal Procedure Act in the warrant. This is an illegal execution and amounts to rebellion," resisting the action. In response, the police repeatedly broadcast warnings stating, "If you obstruct the execution of the warrant, you may be arrested on the spot for obstructing official duties."
The CIO and police attempted forced entry at the residence entrance, and about 30 members of the People Power Party along with President Yoon’s lawyers formed a human chain to block the arrest, holding out for over an hour. Although the Security Office leadership initially announced a tough response, a rift emerged among frontline security staff as awareness spread that they could be prosecuted for obstruction of official duties under special criminal law. Ultimately, after opening the third barricade gate, the CIO and police allowed the warrant execution investigation team’s vehicle to enter and secured President Yoon’s custody. Shortly after the arrest, around 10:35 a.m., President Yoon boarded a security vehicle, left his residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, and was transported to the CIO office at the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. This marked the first time in constitutional history that a sitting president was arrested by investigative authorities on criminal charges.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is arriving at the Gwacheon Corruption Investigation Office building on the 15th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju
Immediately after the arrest became known, President Yoon addressed the public in a statement titled "A Message to the People," saying, "Although this is an illegal investigation, I have decided to comply with the CIO’s summons to prevent an unfortunate bloodshed," but also stated, "I do not acknowledge this investigation by the CIO." Furthermore, he lamented, "Unfortunately, the law in this country has completely collapsed," and said, "It is truly deplorable to witness illegal acts upon illegal acts being carried out and procedures being forcibly conducted based on an invalid warrant."
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