Shin Dongwook: "Let's Just Release Yoon's CCTV Footage to the Public and Let Them Judge"

"Explaining the Situation to Suit the Democratic Party's Interests... Undemocratic"
"Did They Visit at the Special Prosecutor's Instigation?"

As members of the ruling party reviewed closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage taken at Seoul Detention Center during the execution of the arrest warrant for former President Yoon Sukyeol, Shin Dongwook, Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, argued that the video records from that time should be released to the public. He criticized, "It is undemocratic for Democratic Party lawmakers to view the footage themselves and then provide explanations that suit their own interests."

Former President Yoon Sukyeol is entering the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of the 9th to attend a detention hearing (warrant review). The hearing will be presided over by Nam Sejin, chief judge in charge of warrants and a 33rd Judicial Research and Training Institute graduate. Photo by Joint Press Corps

On the September 2 broadcast of SBS Radio's "Kim Taehyun's Political Show," Supreme Council member Shin stated, "At this point, it would be right to release the footage to the public and let the people make their own judgment," raising his voice to add, "Why do they get to see it, but the public does not?"

The previous day, members of the Democratic Party and the Cho Kuk Innovation Party visited Seoul Detention Center, where former President Yoon is being held, to review the CCTV footage inside the facility. In particular, they examined video records, including CCTV, to verify the circumstances in which former President Yoon, during last month's attempt by the special prosecutor's team to execute the arrest warrant, allegedly resisted while wearing only his underwear after removing his prison uniform.

According to National Assembly officials and others, former President Yoon is said to have strongly refused to comply with the special prosecutor's execution of the arrest warrant, stating, "You can't lay a finger on me," and "I am not a convicted prisoner. I am a detainee presumed innocent." The National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee has decided to determine later whether to release the relevant footage to the public.

Regarding this, Supreme Council member Shin pointed out, "After making all sorts of personally insulting remarks until now, why does Minister of Justice Jeong Sungho say it can't be shown? It doesn't add up."

He continued, "If the Democratic Party lawmakers visited to defend the special prosecutor by showing that there was no human rights violation, then I believe it would be right to show everything and make it public. However, the Democratic Party seems extremely reluctant to disclose the footage, which makes me think they have something to hide."

Supreme Council member Shin also argued, "The fact that a group of Legislation and Judiciary Committee members rushed to the scene to describe already well-known details, such as the President sitting on a chair or being in his underwear, constitutes a violation of the Act on Execution of Criminal Sentences and the Personal Information Protection Act." He added, "The special prosecutor is currently under heavy criticism for allegedly violating former President Yoon Sukyeol's human rights, and I believe the lawmakers visited either to protect the special prosecutor or at the special prosecutor's instigation."