With the Seoul Western District Court reissuing an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol, requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, on the 7th, public outrage has intensified, accusing the move of providing justification for what is essentially a rebellious act.
The CIO, accused of attempting an extrajudicial arrest of a sitting president, has announced plans to mobilize the police to enforce the illegal warrant on the 8th.
Oh Dong-eun, the CIO head, who has been accused by the President's side of directing a police special unit without proper investigative authority (including abuse of power), has been summoned to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee for questioning.
During the questioning, Oh was harshly criticized by ruling party lawmakers for attempting to execute an illegal arrest and search warrant despite lacking authority to investigate treason charges.
He argued that the CIO has the authority to investigate abuse of power, including treason, but failed to provide a clear response to the ruling party's assertion that abuse of power alone does not justify suspending the President’s immunity from arrest.
Additionally, when responding to the opposition Democratic Party's demand for an apology, Oh cited the President's protective detail thwarting the warrant's execution, apologizing to "the people," raising questions about which nation’s people he was referring to.
Meanwhile, as the CIO, without police command authority, is known to have mobilized a special police unit for an illegal operation against the sitting head of state, the Presidential Security Service has shown strong opposition, planning to use special guards to firmly block what they see as an act of rebellion, heightening tensions with the possibility of armed clashes between the two agencies.
In response, there is a surge of public demand for the Chief Justice to discipline the judge from the Seoul Western District Court who issued the warrant, emphasizing the urgent need to restore trust in the judiciary.
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