Suspicions Over Multiple Venue Changes for Lawmakers' Assembly During Martial Law Declaration
"We Cannot Refuse to Execute Search and Seizure of Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn"
On December 4th last month, Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, who was the floor leader of the People Power Party during the state of emergency declared on December 3, 2024, held a press conference at the National Assembly to clarify the facts regarding the response situation on the day of the emergency. He explained while holding a document titled "Condemnation Rally Against Impeachment Overuse and Bulletproof Violence," which the People Power Party's central committee had sent to provincial party offices nationwide on December 2 last year concerning the National Assembly situation. Yonhap News
In connection with allegations of obstructing participation in the vote to lift martial law, former People Power Party floor leader Choo Kyung-ho is scheduled to appear before Special Prosecutor Cho Eun-seok's team on the 30th.
According to the legal community on the 28th, the special prosecutor's team has agreed with Choo's side to conduct a suspect interrogation at around 10 a.m. on the 30th.
Choo is suspected of having obstructed other lawmakers from participating in the vote to lift martial law by repeatedly changing the venue of the party’s general assembly at the request of former President Yoon Suk-yeol during the declaration of martial law last year. After the declaration, Choo convened an emergency general assembly and changed the venue three times-from the National Assembly to the party headquarters, back to the National Assembly, and then again to the party headquarters.
The special prosecutor's team has also secured and is investigating Choo’s call records with former President Yoon and others immediately after the declaration of martial law. At the time, while traveling from his home to the National Assembly, Choo reportedly called former Senior Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho and former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in sequence, and then spoke with former President Yoon.
However, Choo's side claims that he was not aware of the martial law in advance and did not discuss obstructing the vote with former President Yoon.
In addition, the special prosecutor's team commented on the failed attempt to execute a search and seizure warrant against former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, stating, "We will proceed in accordance with criminal procedure law, taking into account the situation at the scene."
At a briefing that day, Special Prosecutor Park Ji-young said, "Since the court issued the search and seizure warrant, it is unthinkable not to execute it. If the door is not opened voluntarily during execution, forced entry is possible. Yesterday, however, many supporters gathered at the scene, raising concerns about unforeseen incidents, so we did not proceed with the execution."
She added, "Former Prime Minister Hwang previously served as Minister of Justice and has often stated the need to respond firmly to attempts to undermine proper law enforcement. We expect him to set an example."
The special prosecutor's team attempted to execute the search and seizure warrant at Hwang's residence from the morning of the previous day, but withdrew around 6 p.m. after Hwang refused to open the door and locked himself inside.
The special prosecutor's team reportedly sought the search and seizure in connection with the case in which Hwang was accused of incitement and sedition after posting a message on his Facebook page on December 3 of last year supporting former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law.
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