Re-arrested After 124 Days... Investigation Begins on the 11th
Kang Gijung, Mayor of Gwangju: "A Scene Returning to Its Rightful Place"
Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam: 'Justice Served' Is a Natural Outcome
May Organizations: "We Hope This Leads to Truth-Finding and Punishment"
Former President Yoon Seokyeol, who is under special investigation related to the December 3 emergency martial law, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after the pre-arrest detention hearing on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News
Various sectors in Gwangju and Jeonnam have welcomed the re-arrest of former President Yoon Seokyeol on charges of insurrection, stating that the principle of equality before the law has been reaffirmed.
On the morning of the 10th, Kang Gijung, Mayor of Gwangju, posted on his social media, "It is a scene quickly returning to its rightful place," and uploaded the phrase, "Colonel Park Junghoon is acquitted, Yoon Seokyeol is detained." He also expressed his intention to visit sites affected by the heatwave, stating, "I will visit the field sites exhausted by the sweltering heat."
Earlier, at approximately 2:07 a.m. on the same day, Nam Sejin, the chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, issued an arrest warrant for the former president. The charges include abuse of power, obstruction of special official duties, and fabrication and use of false official documents. Judge Nam stated, "There is sufficient reason to suspect that the accused committed the crimes listed in the warrant, and there is concern over possible destruction of evidence."
Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam, also described the re-arrest of former President Yoon Seokyeol as "justice served" on his social media account.
Governor Kim stated, "In the early hours of today, Yoon Seokyeol, the ringleader of the insurrection, was re-arrested. This is justice and a natural outcome, in line with the common sense and legal sentiment of the people."
He further emphasized, "It was a source of public outrage that while his subordinates were imprisoned, the leader was freely walking the streets. The full truth of the insurrection must be made absolutely clear."
He added, "Since the inauguration of the Lee Jaemyung administration, everything has rapidly returned to normal. Jeonnam Province will also do its utmost, together with the Lee Jaemyung administration, to restore the people's livelihoods and secure future growth engines."
Former President Yoon Seokyoul, who is accused of insurrection related to the December 3 emergency martial law incident, is moving to the Seoul Detention Center, the waiting area, after completing the pre-arrest detention hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the 9th. Photo by Yonhap News
The Democratic Party and independent members of the Gwangju City Council also emphasized in an official statement released on the same day, "Yoon Seokyeol was re-arrested in the early hours today. The re-arrest of the ringleader of the insurrection is a natural consequence and an essential measure to protect the spirit of the Constitution and democracy, which had been undermined."
The city council members pointed out that while former President Yoon freely walked the streets, the rule of law and democratic order in South Korea were seriously threatened. They stated that the manipulation of the judicial system by certain members of the judiciary and prosecution, and the resulting deterioration of people's lives, had deeply angered the citizens of Gwangju.
They added, "Today, with the swift response of the special prosecutor and the decisive action of the court, the doors of justice have reopened. This has reaffirmed the fundamental principle that all citizens are equal before the law."
The May 18 Memorial Foundation and the three May organizations (the Association of the Injured, the Association of Meritorious Persons, and the Bereaved Families Association) also issued a joint statement, saying, "We actively welcome the decision to re-arrest former President Yoon. This re-arrest is an important beginning for realizing the principles of justice and responsibility that our society has long demanded."
The organizations urged, "This re-arrest must go beyond a simple legal procedure and lead to a clear investigation of past wrongdoings and the punishment of those responsible. To ensure that the pain of the May 18 Democratization Movement is never repeated, the principle that no power is above the law must be strictly upheld."
Meanwhile, the special prosecutor team led by Cho Eunseok executed the arrest warrant at the Seoul Detention Center at around 3 a.m. on the same day. Park Jiyoung, the special prosecutor for insurrection, explained, "The arrest warrant was executed by correctional officers under the direction of the special prosecutor. The fact of the arrest was also notified by mail to his spouse, Kim Keonhee, and his attorney." Park further stated, "The investigation will proceed within the scope permitted by public perception, taking into account the former president's status, but otherwise will not differ from that of other suspects." The full-scale investigation is scheduled to begin on the 11th.
During the pre-arrest detention hearing, the special prosecutor reportedly submitted video footage of a cabinet meeting from the Kim Youngsam administration's 1993 announcement of the real-name financial system as evidence to prove that former President Yoon excluded certain cabinet members from deliberations when planning the declaration of martial law, thereby infringing on the cabinet's right to review. This is interpreted as a rebuttal to the claims made by former President Yoon during the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial in February.
Former President Yoon was re-arrested 124 days after being released following a court decision to cancel his detention on March 8.
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