Park Jumin: "Yoon's Defense Team Is Completely Misplanning Their Strategy"

Regarding the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (PCC) filing a petition for a review of the legality of the arrest, claiming the arrest was unjust, President Yoon Suk-yeol's side, Democratic Party lawmaker Park Ju-min said, "(President Yoon's) legal team has completely miscalculated their strategy."

Lawyer-turned-lawmaker Park appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the 16th and said, "If this is the legal team's thinking, they are practically driving (President Yoon) into a dead end." He added, "The entire nation saw that (President Yoon) refused to comply with the warrant execution. Because the Security Office was treated like ordinary soldiers and physical force was used to block it, the petition for review of the legality of the arrest will not be accepted."

He also said, "If the investigative agency files a detention warrant with the court for (President Yoon), the detention warrant will be issued," adding, "Although his residence is clear, he continuously refused to cooperate with the investigation and obstructed the execution of the arrest warrant within that clear residence, making judicial procedures very difficult. All of this is included in the risk of flight."

Park Ju-min, Democratic Party of Korea. Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding the Justice Innovation Party's claim to ban Mrs. Kim Geon-hee from leaving the country, Park said, "Besides involvement in rebellion, there are dozens of criminal charges against that person, so the travel ban should have been imposed earlier." He added, "If the prosecution had the will to properly investigate, they should have summoned or imposed a travel ban."

Park also commented on President Yoon's sudden declaration of voluntary appearance, saying, "The fact that he did not come out forcibly under the arrest warrant is likely a preparation for a future detention warrant." He continued, "He probably wanted to show his supporters that he is confident, but it is useless. The entire nation saw it. He keeps treating people like fools."

Meanwhile, the PCC requested President Yoon Suk-yeol to appear for a second suspect investigation at 2 p.m. that day, but the president did not comply, resulting in failure. The PCC announced to the media in the afternoon, "Regarding the 2 p.m. investigation, President Yoon's side, through his lawyer, conveyed around 1:50 p.m. that 'there is no change in position' and expressed an intention not to attend."

Earlier that morning, Yoon's legal representative, lawyer Yoon Gap-geun, told the media, "President Yoon is not in good health and has sufficiently expressed his position yesterday, so there is no need for further investigation," indicating a refusal to cooperate.