Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers Clash Over Yoon's Detention Footage
"Do Not Confuse the Right to Know with Voyeurism"
As members of the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea and the Cho Kuk Innovation Party reviewed closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage showing the circumstances during the execution of the arrest warrant for former President Yoon Sukyeol, the political dispute between the ruling and opposition parties is intensifying.
On September 2, Seo Youngkyo, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party, appeared on SBS Radio's 'Kim Taehyun's Political Show' and commented on the footage, saying, "It was extremely shocking and I was surprised." She added, "When a prosecutor in the Republic of Korea summons a suspect who is an inmate, can that person refuse to comply? I don't believe anyone in Korea would do that. There have been cases where gangsters or thugs used such tactics and were dragged out by correctional officers."
Seo further stated, "Former President Yoon used informal and disrespectful language toward the special prosecutor who summoned him for the execution of the warrant, saying things like 'Go away,' 'It's unnecessary,' and 'I have no reason to go.' She continued, "He then lay down in front of the special prosecutor, and afterward, he took off his clothes, covered himself with a blanket, and didn't even look at them." She claimed, "He undressed on purpose because he knew the special prosecutor was coming."
Former President Yoon Sukyeol is coming out after the warrant hearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on July 9. Photo by Joint Press Corps
On the other hand, Shin Jiho, former Vice President for Strategy and Planning of the People Power Party, said on KBS1 Radio's 'Jeonggyeok Sisa,' "I don't understand why they are trying to make this issue bigger. Lawmakers should prioritize the national interest. Is this really an act for the national interest? Not only does it fail to serve the national interest, but it also damages the nation's dignity." He added, "They talk about the 'right to know,' but we should not confuse the right to know with voyeurism. Do the people really want to see such scenes?"
He pointed out, "How Democratic Party lawmakers highlight certain scenes from the entire video is something only those who have not seen the full footage would not know. It seems that Democratic Party lawmakers are engaging in so-called 'media play.' This is not a good thing."
Meanwhile, lawmakers from the Democratic Party and the Innovation Party on the National Assembly Legislation and Judiciary Committee, along with members of the Democratic Party's Special Response Committee for the Three Major Special Prosecutions, visited the Seoul Detention Center the previous morning to check whether former President Yoon had received any preferential treatment while in custody. In particular, they reviewed video records, including CCTV footage, to examine the circumstances in which former President Yoon reportedly resisted the execution of the arrest warrant by the special prosecutor last month, allegedly wearing only his underwear after removing his prison uniform. Currently, former President Yoon is living in the detention center as an unconvicted detainee.
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