"'Naeran Sugoe' President Yoon Indicted and Detained... Ruling Party: 'Poor Prosecution', Opposition: 'Start of Punishment'"

by Lee Gwanju

Published 26 Jan.2025 19:57(KST)

The political reactions sharply diverged over the prosecution of President Yoon Seok-yeol on charges of leading an insurrection. While the ruling party claimed it was a 'flawed prosecution,' the opposition called it 'the beginning of punishment' and urged President Yoon to sincerely participate in the trial.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is entering the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency building on the 15th, when the execution of the second arrest warrant was underway. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju

On the 26th, the People Power Party, through chief spokesperson Shin Dong-wook, stated in a commentary, "This is a 'wrong and flawed prosecution' without a proper investigation of President Yoon," adding, "The unprecedented investigation of a sitting president in the history of the Republic of Korea's constitutional government has only caused a 'massive aftershock' of national division and public confusion."

They continued, "The prosecution will find it difficult to avoid 'severe responsibility' for today's flawed prosecution," and insisted, "During the upcoming trial process, the judiciary must impeach the illegal investigation records of the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (Gongsa-cheo) and must dismiss the indictment."

The opposition emphasized judgment on those who executed and abetted the insurrection, including President Yoon. Han Min-soo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, said in a briefing that day, "The punishment of the insurrection ringleader now begins," stressing, "Not only the group that conspired and executed the illegal martial law but also those who spread rumors and incited the insurrection must all be held accountable."

He added, "Defendant Yoon Seok-yeol should accept the fundamental legal principle that 'all citizens are equal before the law' and sincerely participate in the trial," and criticized, "Do not mock the judges with sophistry, lies, and self-denial, and stop attempts to incite far-right supporters with baseless delusions."

He further stated, "The court must strictly hold insurrection ringleader Yoon Seok-yeol accountable for disrupting the national order and trampling on democracy," and added, "Judicial justice and the rule of law, as well as the mandate of the sovereign people, require the court to deliver a strict verdict according to law and principles so that no one can ever again violate the constitutional order and democracy established through the sacrifices of countless citizens."

Yoon Jae-gwan, spokesperson for the Party for National Innovation, also emphasized in a commentary, "It was natural and just that the prosecution arrested and indicted key personnel involved in the insurrection, including Kim Yong-hyun and military and police leaders, so it was unthinkable from the start that the prosecution would indict their leader without detention."