Won Hee-ryong on Yoon's Arrest: "Devastating... Illegal Execution Will Surely Be Judged"

The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Gongsoocheo) has arrested President Yoon Seok-yeol on charges of insurrection, while former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong expressed his "deep sorrow."

On the 15th, former Minister Won stated on his Facebook, "Lack of investigative authority, warrant shopping, illegal warrants, and illegal execution will surely be judged in the future."

Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong. Photo by Yonhap News

He emphasized, "Today, Gongsoocheo executed an arrest warrant against the president," adding, "Since the president cooperated to prevent bloodshed between state institutions and to protect the people, I urge the investigative agencies to conduct thorough investigations until the impeachment trial concludes, but to stop any attempts to detain the sitting president."

Earlier, Gongsoocheo executed an arrest warrant against President Yoon at 10:33 a.m. at his residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and took him into custody. This occurred 43 days after the 'December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident.' President Yoon is accused of declaring the unconstitutional and illegal December 3 Emergency Martial Law and mobilizing military and police forces to incite a riot with the intent to disrupt the national order (charges of insurrection leader and abuse of authority).

In a video message released after the execution of the arrest warrant, President Yoon stated, "To prevent an unfortunate bloodshed, I have decided to comply with Gongsoocheo's summons, even though the investigation is illegal," but added, "However, I do not acknowledge this investigation by Gongsoocheo." He further emphasized, "Complying with these illegal and invalid procedures does not mean I acknowledge them; it is solely to prevent an unfortunate bloodshed."

President Yoon had previously refused to comply with Gongsoocheo's three summons. His side argued that Gongsoocheo does not have investigative authority over insurrection charges and that the president is not obligated to respond to the investigation. They also stated that the president's position on the emergency martial law should be clarified through the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial rather than through investigation.