Defense Team of Participants in 'Seoul Western District Court Riot' Says "Police Also Responsible"

Regarding the 'Seoul Western District Court Rampage Incident' that occurred during the detention of President Yoon Suk-yeol, the defense attorneys of the participants shifted the responsibility for the incident onto the police. They claimed that the police's 'inadequate response' allowed these individuals to break into the court, but this accusation appears to be a case of blaming the victim.

In the early morning of the 19th, as President Yoon Seok-yeol was arrested on charges of being the ringleader of an insurrection, supporters stormed the Seoul Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul. On the 20th, the signboard that fell at the back gate of the Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul, remains unattended. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

The defense team representing those arrested in the incident released a statement on the 26th, arguing, "The responsibility for the Western District Court incident, which was exacerbated by police incompetence and gross negligence, should not be placed solely on the citizens and youth."

They further stated, "Despite a flood of reports signaling the precursor to the incident starting nine hours before it occurred, Acting Commissioner Lee Ho-young of the National Police Agency either took no action or even reduced security personnel," adding, "This could constitute dereliction of duty."

In particular, they added, "If the police had not cleared the way, it would have been difficult for the citizens and youth to enter the building in the first place." This is an argument suggesting that criminals committed crimes because the police did not stop them.

In the early hours of the 19th, when an arrest warrant was issued for President Yoon, his supporters gathered in front of the Western District Court and caused a disturbance inside and outside the court, resulting in a mass arrest by the police. As many as 51 police officers were injured while trying to stop them.