Yoon, Just Before Arrest: "What Good Is Doing Another Two and a Half Years?" Words Left to Ruling Party Lawmakers

Expressing His Thoughts to People Power Party Lawmakers at the Presidential Residence
"Everything About the CIO Investigation and Warrant Execution Is Illegal"
"Complying with the Investigation Out of Concern for Possible Bloodshed"

President Yoon Suk-yeol reportedly said during a meeting with People Power Party lawmakers who visited the presidential residence before the execution of an arrest warrant, "What’s the point of serving the remaining two and a half years of my term in this situation?" Kim Geon-hee, the First Lady, was also briefly present at the meeting, and lawmaker Kwon Young-jin remarked, "(First Lady Kim’s) face looked terrible."

President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is accused of leading an insurrection and abusing his authority to obstruct the exercise of rights, is appearing at the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Department at the Government Complex Gwacheon on the 15th. Photo by Yonhap News

Yonhap News reported on the 15th that President Yoon made these remarks during a roughly 1 hour and 30 minute meeting at the presidential residence with People Power Party lawmakers who had gathered to prevent the execution of the arrest warrant. The media cited multiple attendees to relay what President Yoon said during the meeting. Lawmakers Yoon Sang-hyun, Kwon Young-jin, Lee Sang-hwi, and Park Chung-kwon had been waiting early at the residence, and later lawmaker Kim Ki-hyun also went to the residence to meet President Yoon.

President Yoon reportedly said, "The investigation by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and the process of requesting and executing the warrant are all illegal. I cannot yield to this." However, he added, "If we resist further, there is a risk of violent clashes between the police, the security office, and our youth, which could lead to bloodshed. That’s why I decided to comply with the investigation." He also said, "Whether I stay here (at the residence) or there (at the CIO), I can’t move freely either way," and reportedly added, "It’s better to go in."

Attendees also reported that President Yoon made remarks such as, "Today, you will clearly see how terrifying and ruthless the left-wing judicial cartel is. It’s lawlessness," and "I’m glad to have come to know the true nature of the left." Furthermore, he reportedly said, "Even if I face difficulties, if the people and our youth come to understand the reality of our country and appreciate the value of liberal democracy, that itself has meaning."

At the end of the meeting, President Yoon shook hands with each lawmaker individually, saying, "I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble in this cold weather," and urged, "I hope the party and the people will protect liberal democracy." When boarding a vehicle waiting in front of the residence, lawmakers cheered, "Stay strong," to which President Yoon responded by waving his hand.

It is known that First Lady Kim Geon-hee was also briefly present at the meeting. She reportedly greeted some lawmakers with words of appreciation for their efforts. After the meeting with President Yoon, lawmaker Kwon Young-jin told reporters, "The president looked very tired as he barely slept the night before," and although he did not have much conversation with the First Lady, he said, "Her face looked terrible."

Meanwhile, the CIO and police executed the arrest warrant against President Yoon at 10:33 a.m. that day. This occurred 43 days after the ‘December 3 Emergency Martial Law Incident’ and 8 days after the issuance of the second arrest warrant. This marks the first time in constitutional history that a sitting president has been arrested by investigative authorities.