May Group: "Yoon's Arrest Marks Turning Point for Democracy and Constitutional Order"

"Statement Before Arrest Is an Act of Deceiving the People"

President Yoon Sukyeol is arriving at the Gwacheon Corruption Investigation Office building on the 15th. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

The May organizations evaluated, "The arrest of President Yoon Suk-yeol is a significant historical turning point for safeguarding the democracy and constitutional order of the Republic of Korea."

The three official May 18 organizations (the Bereaved Families Association, the Injured Association, and the Meritorious Persons Association) and the May 18 Memorial Foundation issued a statement on the 15th, declaring, "This judicial action is only the beginning of restoring justice and the rule of law."

The organizations stated, "Suspect Yoon Suk-yeol abused his presidential office to undermine the constitutional order and privatize state power, causing severe confusion and suffering to countless citizens," and criticized, "His illegal abuse of power and authoritarian behavior constitute serious criminal acts that threatened the very foundation of Korean democracy."

They further asserted, "He obstructed judicial proceedings to evade legal responsibility, which is a treasonous act that directly denies the constitutional order and shakes the very roots of democratic values," and emphasized, "This arrest is the first step toward realizing just punishment for all the accumulated illegal acts."

They continued, "All of his actions, which have skillfully evaded the law, must be clearly revealed," and added, "We hope that this arrest will serve as an opportunity for democracy and the rule of law to be further strengthened."

The May organizations condemned President Yoon's statement prepared before his arrest, calling it an act of deceiving history and the people.

The organizations said, "His remarks are the height of shamelessness and audacity that cannot be overlooked," and added, "It is as if a criminal, who ran rampant and destroyed the law in a lawless land, is now claiming the protection of the law at the very moment of arrest to present himself in a favorable light."

They emphasized, "He is the very person who destroyed the rule of law, causing countless citizens to suffer, and for him to now claim 'the protection of the law' is truly an act of deceiving history and the people," and added, "No one can be an exception before the law."

They also added, "We urge that the truth about his alleged crimes be thoroughly revealed and that appropriate punishment be enforced."