Park Jiwon: "Yoon Should Stop Showing an Undignified Side... Even Park Geunhye Ultimately Said 'The Responsibility Is Mine'"

Yoon Seokyoul Faces Pretrial Detention Hearing on July 9
Park Jiwon: "Warrant Expected Due to Extensive Evidence Destruction"
"Kim Sunghoon Has Confessed... Kim Yonghyun Will Also Change His Statement"

As the pretrial detention hearing (warrant review) for former President Yoon Seokyoul is set to take place on the afternoon of July 9, Park Jiwon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, asserted, "The warrant will naturally be issued," adding, "His actions as the ringleader of an insurrection are bad, but what is even worse is the extent of distortion and destruction of evidence he is currently engaged in." In an interview with YTN Radio's 'Shin Yul's News Jeongmyeonseungbu' on July 8, Park stated, "If someone has served as the president of a country for three years, they should at least avoid showing an undignified side to the public at the end," and added, "Even former President Park Geunhye ultimately issued a public apology and said, 'The responsibility is mine.'"

Park Jiwon, Democratic Party of Korea member. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Park further commented, "All those whom President Yoon trusted, such as former Deputy Chief of Security Kim Sunghoon and former Chief Secretary, are now confessing. Before long, former Defense Minister Kim Yonghyun will also change his statement," and continued, "If a president, like a gang boss, does things that prevent his subordinates from speaking out, do you think the people and history will forgive him?" He went on to say, "Former First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Taehyo was summoned as a suspect in the Chae Sangbyeong special investigation, and he will be summoned again in the insurrection special investigation," adding, "There is no area of state affairs untouched by his shadow. I believe former Deputy Director Kim is also involved in the foreign exchange and North Korean drone issues."

Regarding the search and seizure of the office of People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sanghyun by the Kim Keonhee special prosecutor on the same day, Park said, "It has already been revealed that candidate nomination interference was carried out through Representative Yoon," and added, "Although they denied it, as their relationship with Myung Taegyun was exposed, inevitably, all of them will face problems." He continued, "I wonder if People Power Party lawmakers will also be punished in relation to the insurrection issue," and added, "If a (member of the National Assembly) has done wrong, they should be punished." When asked whether First Lady Kim Keonhee would also have to appear for a photo line, Park replied, "Peace will come to Korea only when Yoon Seokyoul and Kim Keonhee are quickly separated."

Commenting on the ongoing turmoil over the party leadership within the People Power Party, Park declared, "The People Power Party cannot change." He added, "Representative Ahn Cheolsoo is right. How can there be innovation without a personnel overhaul?" and continued, "If you have elected an innovation committee chairperson to pursue reform, you must provide a platform for that, but even now, all the real Yoon and pro-Yoon factions within the People Power Party are acting on behalf of Yoon Seokyoul, and the TK (Daegu-Gyeongbuk) faction is in control." Park further stated, "I believe both Ahn Cheolsoo and Han Donghoon's remarks are correct," but emphasized, "However, it will not happen as they say. Although Representative Ahn declared he would run for party leader to 'wield the knife' after resigning as innovation committee chair, under the current circumstances, even the party leadership is out of reach."

On the 9th, the detention hearing for former President Yoon Seokyoul will be held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

At around 2:15 p.m. on July 9, the pretrial detention hearing for former President Yoon Seokyoul will be held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, presided over by Chief Judge Nam Sejin, who is in charge of warrants. The decision on whether to issue the warrant is expected to be announced late at night or in the early morning of July 10. On the day of the hearing, former President Yoon is scheduled to appear in court in person. The special prosecutor's team led by Cho Eunseok, which is investigating the 12·3 insurrection·foreign exchange case, requested an arrest warrant for former President Yoon on July 6 on charges including obstruction of special official duties, violation of the Presidential Security Act, abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights, and falsification of official documents.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that it would deploy sufficient personnel and equipment to manage the situation and would respond strictly to any illegal or violent acts with a zero-tolerance policy. The police plan to station around 30 units (approximately 2,000 officers) and about 350 pieces of safety fencing and other barricade equipment near the court until the warrant issuance process is completed.