'Yoon Supporters' Attack on Western District Court' Judicial Representatives' Meeting: "Unacceptable as an Act Undermining the Constitutional Order" (Comprehensive)

Statement Adopted at Emergency Meeting on the 22nd
"We Will Fulfill Our Responsibilities Entrusted by the Constitution and Laws"

The National Council of Judges expressed strong concern over the incident in which ardent supporters of President Yoon Seok-yeol attacked the Seoul Western District Court in the early hours of the 19th. The National Council of Judges is a body composed of judges from frontline courts.

On the morning of the 20th, a day after some supporters stormed inside the Seoul Western District Court causing an illegal violent incident following President Yoon Seok-yeol's arrest on charges of leading an insurrection, the damage at the Western District Court in Mapo-gu, Seoul, remains visible. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

On the 22nd, the National Council of Judges issued a statement saying, "Collectively and violently attacking the court due to trials is an act that infringes on the functions of the judiciary and undermines the foundation of the constitutional order, and can never be tolerated."

They added, "Judges nationwide will fulfill their responsibilities entrusted by the Constitution and laws by conducting fair trials without wavering in the face of any threats," and "We ask for the public's interest and cooperation to protect the functions of the judiciary and the independence of judges."

This statement was adopted with a majority vote at a special meeting convened that day. Among 124 judge representatives, 81 participated in the vote, with 48 in favor and 33 against, passing the motion. Those opposed argued that the same content had already been announced by the Court Administration Office Director and the Supreme Court Justices' meeting, that there was a risk of judges' opinions being politically exploited, and that it could be misunderstood as prejudging trials related to the Seoul Western District Court incident. However, considering the seriousness of the collective violent incident against the court, more judges agreed with the opinion that it was necessary to express the will of all judges and to declare that trials related to the Seoul Western District Court would also be conducted fairly according to the Constitution and laws.

Earlier, in the early hours of the 19th, when the Seoul Western District Court issued an arrest warrant for President Yoon, ardent supporters opposing this broke into the court building for about three hours, damaging visible property. They even entered up to the 7th floor of the building, saying they would find the judge who issued the warrant.

Judges Hong Da-seon and Kang Young-gi of the Seoul Western District Court, after conducting pretrial detention hearings for 58 suspects requested by the prosecution the previous day, issued arrest warrants for 56 of them on the day, citing "risk of flight." The charges included violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (joint residential intrusion) for 39 people, obstruction of official duties by special means for 12, damage to public property for 1, attempted damage to public property for 1, special assault for 1, building intrusion for 1, and obstruction of official duties for 1. Judge Kang dismissed the arrest warrants for 2 suspects accused of joint residential intrusion under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, stating there was "no risk of flight or evidence tampering."

Meanwhile, the National Council of Judges is a body composed of representative judges elected from courts at various levels, which expresses opinions or makes recommendations on judicial administration and judicial independence.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.