Chu Kyungho's Arrest Warrant Dismissed... Special Prosecutor's Momentum Falters on First Anniversary of Martial Law (Comprehensive)

Yonhap News Agency

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On this day, at around 4:50 a.m., Judge Lee Jeongjae, the presiding judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, announced the dismissal of the arrest warrant for former Floor Leader Chu Kyungho, who was under suspicion of interfering with the National Assembly's vote to lift martial law (participation in important insurrection-related duties).

After completing the pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review), Judge Lee stated, "Considering the suspect's residence, career, the progress of the investigation, attendance record, and the extent of evidence collected, it is difficult to see a risk of flight or evidence destruction. Taking all these circumstances into account, it is hard to recognize sufficient grounds or necessity for detaining the suspect."

Former Floor Leader Chu was accused of obstructing members of the People Power Party from participating in the National Assembly's vote to lift martial law immediately after former President Yoon Sukyeol declared martial law on December 3 of last year.

Former Floor Leader Chu and the special prosecutor's team fiercely contested the case, leading up to the National Assembly's vote on the arrest motion. The special prosecutor's team applied for the warrant, arguing that on the day martial law was declared, Chu had multiple phone calls with former President Yoon Sukyeol, former Chief Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheolho, and former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, and changed the location of the party caucus several times, indicating a strong intent to obstruct the vote.

During the pre-arrest interrogation the previous day, both sides engaged in a nearly nine-hour battle. The review, which began at 3 p.m., concluded after 11:50 p.m. The special prosecutor's team submitted a 741-page opinion and 304 PowerPoint slides to the court, making every effort to secure Chu's arrest. Special Prosecutor Park Jiyoung stated, "We aimed to highlight the seriousness of the crime, emphasizing what actions should have been taken by the ruling party's floor leader in a situation where the people's fundamental rights were violated and the National Assembly was brutally trampled by the military."

Representative Donghyuk Jang, Floor Leader Eonseok Song, and other members of the People Power Party left the plenary session after the arrest consent motion for Representative Kyung-ho Chu was submitted to the National Assembly plenary session on the 27th, shouting slogans of condemnation. 2025.11.27 Photo by Hyunmin Kim

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The previous day, former Floor Leader Chu arrived at the court supported by around 90 People Power Party lawmakers, including Representative Jang Donghyuk. Before entering the courtroom, he stressed, "I expect a fair judgment from the court, free from political bias." His legal team, including attorney Choi Kisik, prepared a 400-page opinion and 120 PowerPoint slides to argue that the special prosecutor's request for an arrest warrant was excessive.

While the warrant review was underway, People Power Party lawmakers held a "Special Prosecutor for Insurrection Condemnation Rally," shouting, "We must defend former Floor Leader Chu with our lives." Representative Jang declared, "The warrant will definitely be dismissed," and added, "Today will mark the beginning of the people's great counterattack to end the tyranny of the ruthless Lee Jaemyung administration."

With the warrant dismissed, it is expected that the special prosecutor's team will refer former Floor Leader Chu to trial without detention. The supplementary investigation period is tight, as the special prosecutor's investigation ends on the 14th. As a result, momentum for additional investigations into the 90 or so People Power Party lawmakers who did not participate in the vote to lift martial law is likely to be lost. Under the Special Prosecutor Act, such investigations will be transferred to the National Investigation Headquarters.

With the dismissal of Chu's arrest warrant, the People Power Party, now facing the first anniversary of the martial law crisis, has overcome a major hurdle. It is expected that the Democratic Party's attacks, branding the party as an "insurrectionist party" or calling for a "constitutional dissolution review," will be deflected for the time being. The party leadership's offensive against the government and ruling party is also likely to intensify.

On the other hand, the Democratic Party is expected to direct its criticism toward the judiciary. On the 28th of last month, Democratic Party leader Jeong Cheongrae stated at the Supreme Council meeting, "If the warrant is dismissed, the blame will be directed at Chief Justice Cho Heedae's judiciary," and added, "There will be a flood of demands for judicial reform, including the establishment of an insurrection trial division."

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