Yun's arrest warrant is due tomorrow...What's your choice?

■ Host: Lee Se-na Anchor, Park Hee-jae Reporter
■ Starring: Choi Chang-ryeol, Special Professor of Yongin University, Park Sang-gyu, Current Affairs Critic

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN Newswide] when quoting.

[Anchor]
The arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol is valid until tomorrow.

[Anchor]
Whether to re-enforce or consider follow-up measures such as a warrant for prior arrest. The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit is at a crossroads. Let's point out with Choi Chang-ryul, a special professor at Yongin University, and Park Sang-gyu, a current affairs critic.

[Anchor]
How are you? It was last Friday. In the process of executing the arrest warrant for President Yoon, there are circumstances that the police and military who were guarding the official residence first cleared the way. Rejected a request from the bodyguard, can I see it like this?

[Park Sang Kyu]
As you may have seen when the first cordon was in place, you could see military armored vehicles and a large number of soldiers came out. Those of you who watched the live broadcast will know, but I also saw the scene of the withdrawal. I think it was that situation. Later, it was known that Chief of Security Park Jong-joon requested additional troops, but since this was not accepted, he was very embarrassed and bit the cordon back.

At the same time, the armored vehicles were also withdrawn, but I will tell you in detail later about the military's judgment, but the field commander must have reported it, and many generals of the military are now being arrested or investigated in connection with the alleged civil war
You know, it's probably the second-tier in that situation. It must be an acting system, but those commanders made a judgment and got bitten, so don't do it. The same goes for the police.

This situation is a little worrisome to me. Of course, it was judged on the spot, and I think there could be a case of refusing the security service's request in such a serious situation. The bodyguard may have decided that this was because it was a request outside of the law. Another concern is that acting President Choi Sang-mok also rejected his request.

I didn't respond. It's not responding and refusing to comply, but I think that's a bit of a concern. I can reject the additional request of the security service, but isn't the acting president of the Republic of Korea right now Choi Sang-mok the Deputy Prime Minister for Economy? Then, when I told you about the situation, there was a certain situation in North Korea, a provocative situation. Then the commander-in-chief always asks foreign media. Who is in charge of the South Korean military? I'm the acting chief.

It may be a very bad precedent in that acting authority Choi Sang-mok said, "Send troops somewhere in a situation," but I don't think that's the case, so he left room for rejection.
I will point out this point, and I believe that I can reject the security's request on the spot, and I admit that.

[Anchor]
On the contrary, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit sent an official letter to Acting President Choi Sang-mok asking for cooperation with the Security Agency on the 1st, but has not replied yet. What's your intention?

[Choi Chang Ryul]
Acting President Choi Sang-mok will be wary of the ruling party. That's the only way I can see it. Isn't acting president Choi Sang-mok taking over the role of the president now? You're the acting president and deputy prime minister for economy. Then you have to clarify your position on this situation. We talked a lot.Ma believes that the request for cooperation from acting authority Choi Sang-mok is actually an order to the military and police.

Because it's a request for cooperation. If the military and police didn't bring an arrest warrant, would they have done this? The arrest warrant is legally issued within the Korean judicial system. Since they brought the warrant, the military and police didn't listen to themselves. So it's hard to say that this is a subpar. Now floor leader Kwon Sung-dong says it's a downbeat, but it's hard to agree with and I don't know if acting chief Choi Sang-mok will at least re-enforce it.

There's nothing to talk about today, but I think it's right to tell them to cooperate with the execution of the warrant for this situation. However, the acting president Choi Sang-mok does not reject it, nor does he positively respond to the request from the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. It's already the second time. You can't do it like this. You have to make your position clear. Is this NCND? That's not right.

You have to say it clearly. Either you refuse or you say that the security is right, or you have to direct the security. Because I'm acting as an acting authority. Aren't you saying you're the commander-in-chief? You should have told them to cooperate with the execution because the warrant is legal, but they are showing an ambiguous attitude.

You appointed two judges of the Constitutional Court last time. And the court vetoed it. It's precisely mechanical neutrality on both sides. I'm sure he had his own thoughts.Ma appointed only two members of the Constitutional Court. One refused for ridiculous reasons that the ruling and opposition parties couldn't agree.

Nevertheless, I think it is worth evaluating positively that the Constitutional Court is composed of eight people by balancing anyway. At least the acting president should speak clearly about this issue. But there's nothing to talk about yet. I don't think this is a good attitude.

[Anchor]
Acting President Choi Sang-mok should give command so that he can cooperate with the execution of arrest warrants, and he should make a clear position.

[Choi Chang Ryul]
You should reject it. You should tell the security to do it or make it clear.

[Anchor]
Then, the critic is thinking that acting Choi should direct the security service, right?

[Park Sang Kyu]
When it comes to acting as an acting president, I think the presidential security service can legally order the security service on behalf of the suspended president of Yoon Suk Yeol. But what kind of order is that? So, is it an order to block the execution of an arrest warrant or a search warrant, or can it simply be an order to send additional security forces to protect the president's safety and that of Yoon Suk Yeol's president. So, in fact, I think there is a lot of pain in this part of acting Choi Sang-mok.

As you know well, the fact that acting Choi Sang-mok originally had a relationship with President Yoon Suk Yeol was selected after paying attention to the investigation target, and after twists and turns, he rose to the position of acting president. While being criticized by the ruling and opposition parties, only two constitutional judges have been appointed. So the opposition party warned about this incident that it could be a reason for impeachment, but I don't want the Democratic Party to use the word impeachment that often anymore.

It's not Cho Ja-yong's tribute, and they often talk about impeachment. Then you should impeach him. Because the impeachment of Acting President Choi Sang-mok is an important issue at stake in national credibility. It's the last time. Secretary of State Blinken, who went on a farewell visit, said that, and the State Department said that. I believe in Choi's ability to run the current Korean government. I support you. And you're an economist.

Isn't it that the economy was the first to make the decision after such consideration? With Bank of Korea Governor Lee Chang-yong. Like Lee Bok-hyun, the head of the Financial Supervisory Service, pro-Yoon personnel, who were former prosecutors, said that they were good at doing this. It's impeachable. It could be a reason for impeachment. However, the fact that they keep talking about impeachment makes investors nervous. The market will open again on Monday, but I'm not just talking about the market. In a situation where the economy could be in trouble, I would like to say that Choi is holding out until the situation stabilizes and is resolved, which could be a reason for impeachment.

[Anchor]
Earlier, in some media reports, Acting President Choi Sang-mok ordered the police to deploy the security unit to the residence, but as critic Park said, the opposition party said this could be a reason for impeachment. What do you think about this?

[Choi Chang Ryul]
The opposition thinks it's a threat. I'm not going to impeach you, probably. I'm going to impeach him now so I can't blame him. But that makes sense. I think you're overusing the word impeachment, but that's not the essence right now.

It is not the essence of attacking the opposition party after saying that. The opposition party has continued to impeach. I also criticized a lot. And I used the bill excessively because it was too legislative. This government has overstepped its veto power. I don't think they were criticized on both sides. However, I don't think I'll impeach Acting President Choi Sang-mok in this situation. I don't think I'll do it 99.9%, and I think it's better not to talk about it anymore. Anyway, I understand the grievances of acting chief executive Choi Sang-mok.

I'm not sure if I should conduct with A or B right now. I don't know what kind of politics and philosophy Acting President Choi Sang-mok has or what kind of perspective he has on this matter. It's only based on most of your thoughts. Of course, I'll refer to the stories of my aides.Ma. Nevertheless, I am.

We don't know if this situation will be executed today or tomorrow, or if it ends tomorrow, we will fail to execute the warrant and re-claim the warrant or pre-arrest warrant. The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit will also consider it. If the warrant goes into execution, I think it's right for the security to cooperate here.

I told you that it's Kyungho somewhere else.Ma has a definition of security in the law on security such as the president. The definition of security is to protect the life and property of the president, and it is security to prevent it when it is harmful to the body. What kind of harm are you doing to a president by issuing an arrest warrant and going to execute that warrant, and threatening his life and property? It's not like that.

If you judge that even that harms the president of the country, you can't help it, if the security chief judges it that way. It's a matter for the courts to decide afterwards. Nevertheless, it's not just a rush in, no matter who looks at it. The expression "hurting in" is wrong. It's not just to go in and come out as president. Didn't you see it the day before yesterday? Aren't you saying that hundreds of millions of people around the world watched it?

And how do the BBC, AP, and famous broadcasters evaluate it now? You have to look at that. The floor leader Kwon Sung-dong is in the bottom line. This is not the time. The opposition party has a lot to criticize. As I said earlier, I also criticized the opposition a lot. It's not opposition time in this situation. It's time for the Constitutional Court and time for the security service. I think it's up to him.You can't take Ma like that. That is irresponsible.

You have to make your position clear. The bodyguard is guarding you, until the end. Don't you have to do it according to your philosophy or say, "This is a warrant, so I command you as acting president, listen to me?" I made a second request, but you don't do this? That would seem very indecisive and that would seem irresponsible. That's what I think.

[Anchor]
We will have to wait and see what kind of reply Choi Sang-mok will make today to the request of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and express his position. The security agency's position now seems to be a little embarrassing. Some analysts say that the security agency is now being isolated, what do you think?

[Park Sang Kyu]
Isolated. As you know, the security of the Presidential Security Service is made up of three. The security service blocks the core part of the last core, and the police and the military are in the other part. Of course, it's a mix of military and police. There's 202 guard. However, since the military and police took this situation very seriously and said they would not respond to this issue at least, it should be considered that the three layers and two layers are actually peeled off.

Then, if there is another attempt to execute an arrest warrant, whether it is today, this afternoon, or by midnight tomorrow, the security service has to stop it alone. I am very concerned. Even so, Chief of Security Park Jong-joon refused to comply with the first police's request for summons, but he refused and told them to postpone it to the 7th or 8th, including the deputy chief. What's the point of the 7th and 8th? It means you have to pass it over six days.

6th, so after the deadline for the arrest warrant has expired, I will go and answer then. I'm not saying I won't go out. How I read this line is... I read it with a bit of a heart. I got to know Park Jong-joon, the head of the security department, a senior police officer, and he was a very active police officer in the field of information planning.

After that, he ran for the general election twice and served as an auditor of Korail. Then, he became the security chief through the deputy chief, but he's not a desert man. But looking at his attitude this time, I think he's determined. So, I use the expression "I threw away the sheath" as a common saying, but I think I'm just expecting all judicial treatment after this. I won't avoid that either. I think it's that kind of character.

However, I will do my job as the head of the security department on this matter. Since he is in a position to take responsibility after that, if he tries to execute the arrest warrant too hard in this situation, I am concerned about conflict based on his character and attitude so far, so there is a third solution reported in some media here. President Yoon's lawyers and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit are in behind-the-scenes contact.

So I'm saying I'll be investigated. Why do you want to get this arrest warrant and search warrant and execute it like this? Isn't it because President Yoon doesn't respond to the investigation? I will respond to the investigation, so please open the way. Isn't it known that there are several ways to be discussed?

Third place, or you respond in a proper way. However, if this is not compromised, as Professor Choi said earlier, it is expected that it will be immediately transferred to a preliminary arrest warrant. However, one thing I would like to point out as a critic is that this time, I hope it will be an uncontroversial and flawless warrant request and issuance.

Some people will object to the expression "defect" again, but the Seoul Western District Court and the warrant judge inserting some exceptions are now controversial. This is not it, it is. Because it is such a field of confrontation, it is in the Corruption Investigations Unit Act, and except for one person and Moon Sang-won, the Corruption Investigations Unit applied for a warrant at the Seoul Central District Court and did it there whether it was dismissed or issued. I hope you follow the trend.

Do that and don't put any exceptions on it. In that case, President Yoon's lawyers said, "Maybe it's a substantive examination." How long will they avoid criminal prosecution? At that time, I believe that I will be confident and confident, and I think we should give some time until then to avoid extreme methods. That's what I think.

[Anchor]
In the meantime, the ruling and opposition parties are pressing at the same time for the investigation of high-ranking government officials at the National Assembly, so please see if our recording is ready. The ruling and opposition parties are pressing at the same time. Let's listen to the recording.

[Anchor]
People say that the power of the people is illegal execution of warrants, stop immediately, and the Democratic Party is saying that the organization's fate should be put on the line to re-execute the warrant. The warrant deadline is tomorrow, but do you think the second warrant will be executed, professor?

[Choi Chang Ryul]
I think I'll do it tomorrow. There were some expectations that we would do it today, but we had a lot of time today. It snowed a lot. I think we'll do it tomorrow, but what we're overlooking is how can we investigate civil war without even investigating the case of Chae Sung-dong, a lawmaker. Is this what the ruling party's floor leader is going to say now? Who stopped you from investigating Chae?

You who couldn't investigate corporal Chae now can such poor people investigate this huge rebellion, is this what we are talking about now? I want to point out one thing. One more thing, I think we need to talk about it before answering the question earlier. Should I keep defending President Yoon's side or his position a little bit? That's what people who defend him said without exception.

Why did you do it to the Seoul Western District Court without issuing a warrant to the Seoul Central District Court? Why did you put exceptions to Article 110 and Article 111 of the Criminal Procedure Act? Even to me, this was an unnecessary excuse. This should have been done by the Central District Court, whether the arrest warrant was dismissed or issued, but this is not important at all.

There's no flaw in the procedural legitimacy of doing it to the Western District Court. I keep talking about this. So, if you look closely, I think what those people who defend their positions are saying is that it's a strategy to find a gap and keep talking about flaws. And this is... I write down 110 trillion won and 111 trillion won. Article 110 requires military secrets, Article 111 (1) is a search and seizure warrant for items that must be kept confidential, that is, places and objects. This is an arrest warrant.

So the judge didn't have to make this exception. But it was sweet and I just gave it an excuse, but it shouldn't bite too much and stretch it. There's nothing wrong with that. In addition, the other is stated in Article 111, Paragraph 2, which clearly states that consent cannot be refused except in cases of significant harm to the state. under the Criminal Procedure Act I'm telling you to follow the law.

But why is this such a problem? Can't the Seoul Western District Court issue it? Isn't that the Korean court? I can criticize that. You can criticize why you had to provide this element of controversy, but that's not the essence. I'm just telling you that. Anyway, we don't know what the execution of the warrant will be like tomorrow, I think we'll do it, but can't we just do it once?

Even from the point of view of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. But if the head of the security guard knows well, I don't know Park Jong-joon well. There will be another mishap and physical conflict, but I don't think so, but if it's clear and clear, I'd rather ask for a preliminary arrest warrant and get it issued if I couldn't go to execute the warrant. Then, according to a brief report earlier, President Yoon should go to the court for a substantive examination of the arrest warrant.

I think it's worth it. The problem is next. So you're gonna go into custody? If you don't even have an arrest warrant, will you do it then? That's about then. I think there's a choice between the two, but the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit will think about it today and tomorrow morning. I don't think it'll be easy to predict exactly in this situation.

[Anchor]
Earlier, you heard a recording of the ruling and opposition parties pressuring the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, and Kwon Sung-dong, the floor leader of the People's Power, said that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit has not played a role for four years and is trying to show off the reason for its existence. Do you sympathize with this part to a certain extent, or what do you think?

[Park Sang-gyu]
A common word that came out when creating the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit is crude. That's why fast track was created. Since then, people in Korea have enjoyed using the word fast track at any time. So, we made the law over and over again.

At that time, there was a lot of opposition. What I'm trying to say is that we created an essential institution in Korea called the High-ranking Public Officials Crime Investigation Agency, but the traffic was not organized at all because we tried to go against each other. So, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit had 15 prosecutors, and then no right to investigate a rebellion, but it was supposed to keep hearing that it did not have the right to investigate.

There would have been no controversy if this had been specified in the legal text after sufficient agreement between the ruling and opposition parties. This catastrophic situation was already foreshadowed at the time because it was a rough-and-ready institution when the Moon Jae In government made it. That's what I thought. If this happens, the prosecution said that here too, but this was handed the ball over to the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit.

You can't prosecute anyway. You have to bring it back to the prosecution to prosecute. The police can investigate. It is a harsh expression for the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit to show off the reason for its existence for no reason, and let's do something we haven't done for four years this time, let's put the president on it. I think there's an aspect of doing this. So, if it doesn't work, you can either hand it over to the police this time or give it back to the prosecution for a legitimate investigation and request a warrant, or do it where you have the right to investigate, and do it where you have the right to prosecute. The fact that it is divided like this itself is a big secret of our legal system.

This time, the impeachment controversy is settled and there is talk of constitutional amendment. Let's end the 87 year system. I think the 87-year system should be over. When talking about the constitutional amendment, I say that this part really needs to be sorted out after a long time and effort.

[Anchor]
In this way, the power of the people is focused on the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, while the Democratic Party of Korea is focusing on the security service. Park Chan-dae, the floor leader, said, "The security office should be disbanded. Security work should be transferred to another agency. What do you think about this when you are making this argument?

[Choi Chang Ryul]
I think that's going to take a lot of discussion. The opposition party is on the offensive because the security service is not cooperating with the issuance of the warrant, but you need to refrain from saying that. In any case, there is a law on the security of the president of the Republic of Korea, and there is a security law.

It's an organization created accordingly, so the opposition party can enact a law or a new law related to security. Since there are many seats now, there are more than 170 seats and more than 190 seats in the pan-night area, so you can do it. You can also revise it, but then look at this situation now. I'm very critical of this behavior of Chief of Security Park Jong-joon, but if the Chief of Security was not this person, this wouldn't have happened.

I think it was created because the bodyguard changed from a bodyguard to a bodyguard in its own way and the Korean judicial system needs a bodyguard. There must be other countries' jobs. Even in that part, I associate it with something that is not the essence if it is a little different from them. That's why the opposition party needs to refrain from saying this. What I keep saying is not the essence of this issue.

Rather than disbanding the bodyguard, Mani, there's nothing to argue about with this at all. I think so. The same goes for the ruling party. The ruling party can also keep pointing out peripheral issues too much now. You can point it out and you can take issue with the flaws, and nevertheless, the thing that I should never forget when we see this huge situation at the moment is that we arm the Korean army, and the elite troops. Breaking into the National Assembly at night is the essence of this issue.

The anti-constitutionality, unconstitutionality, and illegality of emergency martial law are the essence. Aren't there a lot of stories about rebellion and all sorts of things? I'll need that, too.Ma is basically saying that you have to condemn it. When a warrant is issued, the warrant should be executed. The public authority is ignored.

Does that make sense? When the president showed his will to defend the law and took office, he vowed and swore to defend the constitution and emphasized the rule of law more than anyone else. But I can't do it if the security guard blocks me and I can't go in, but I can't do this. Geoje knows well that emphasizing this justification is useless, but there is no country that does this?

The problem is that the warrant issued, the Western District Court said that the warrant was wrong, and that the exception was indicated in the warrant, and that's not the essence. It's a very peripheral problem. So I know it's useless to talk about this 100 days, but if this doesn't work, is there no other way but to choose the next lane? Nevertheless, it is completely from the people that the ruling party, especially the ruling party, is unduly defending President Yoon.

[Anchor]
The ruling and opposition parties have repeatedly said that we should focus on the essence, not the side, but how and how President Yoon will move forward in the future. I wonder if I will continue to stick to this strategy in the future, will it come out as a non-compliance strategy again even if I re-execute the warrant? What do you think?

[Park Sang Kyu]
You shouldn't do that. I will take responsibility with pride. You have to answer that. Since you are still the president of the Republic of Korea, this part is handled by a legitimate investigative agency, so it's not that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit is doing something wrong. This is an issue that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit cannot hold on to the end. So it's going to be prosecuted.

Isn't it going on in three branches right now? The Constitutional Court's judgment has begun, and investigations have been conducted, and many people involved are now in custody. President Yoon refuses to investigate the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, but if the prosecution or the police request a warrant, he has repeatedly expressed his position that he will go out and comply with the substantive examination and become a criminal prosecution.

I believe that you will do that and I think you should do that. However, in the process, the national opinion was so torn to shreds. Yesterday, what number says that about 27,000 people are in favor of impeachment, and 35,000 people are against impeachment, so does this win? That's why people shouted that they won and shouted hooray, but you can't miss that.

That is not the point. I'm tongue-in-cheek about Korea as the whole world is watching. With this excellent K-content, it is sweeping the global market and has to continue toward the economy, and the Trump administration is only about 10 days away from its inauguration, and we are going to the inauguration ceremony with two people, a church pastor and a businessman.

It's not a matter of attending the inauguration ceremony or not, but how fast the world is moving now, will we be stuck in Hannam-dong forever? Are you going to be stuck in Seocho-dong? I am very concerned about that, and for this, such an answer of self-determination should be given. In that sense, President Yoon should act accordingly, I believe so.

[Anchor]
In fact, as the Constitutional Court and investigative agencies are in a race for speed, some say that the scope of President Yoon's actions has narrowed, and even though it was graphic earlier, it also sent out an off-the-shelf message. I wonder what you think about this.

[Choi Chang Ryul]
What do I think about the off-the-shelf message? That is not a message to the people of patriotism. The message to those who oppose President Yoon's impeachment and the execution of the arrest warrant in front of the Hannam-dong residence is correct. What's going on over there right now? an act of exploitation of sovereignty, an act of sedition against anti-state forces. I told you that.

I have a message. It doesn't show on the screen. I will fight to the end against that quasi-dong. The country is in danger. A lot of people there would agree. But how many people in South Korea agree with that? President Yoon Suk Yeol has already been suspended as President of the Republic of Korea.Ma is maintaining his presidency.

As a president, I'm not in a situation where I can send a message to the people. It must be hard for them, too. They say they stayed up all night yesterday, but I'm not saying that those who oppose and support impeachment are divided. It means that the Han River Station is divided over here, but everyone is having a hard time, but I don't know what that message is about. What kind of people are anti-state forces. If I were you, would you be an anti-state force?

Because I'm in favor of impeachment. Then who is the power to invade sovereignty? Is it a court? Because you issued a warrant? That seems to be over-conscious of certain forces. I won't make a conclusion. But I think it would be better for the president to keep his dignity and body. As our critic Park said. It's called a division of public opinion, but it's not division right now. I'm not asking you to impeach a lot of people who are 70% overwhelmed. What kind of division is it? This is what very few staunch supporters do, so it looks like a split. It's not divided at all. I'm telling you that.

[Anchor]
For the rest of the time, let's take a look at the impeachment trial in the Constitutional Court. The National Assembly's impeachment investigation team asked the Constitutional Court to proceed with the trial focusing on whether it is unconstitutional or not, excluding the charge of rebellion in the impeachment of President Yoon. What do you think about this?

[Park Sang-gyu]
There were about three parts that surprised me when I was a month away from this incident, but of course, on December 3rd, during the emergency martial law, I was also surprised while watching TV, and there were many parts after that. But actually, I was puzzled in this section as well. Take out the crime of rebellion? Of course, I explain a lot of legal things after that. Insurrection crimes can only be dealt with in criminal trials, and constitutional trials only deal with violations of the Constitution, so only the unconstitutionality of martial law declaration and emergency martial law needs to be contested.

However, with the approval of 204 people, the National Assembly's impeachment bill was passed with the members of the People's Power. At that time, I brought up the impeachment inquiry again today and stood up. The crime of rebellion comes out at the top. And few people say emergency martial law. It's all civil war.

President Yoon Suk Yeol keeps saying that in the Democratic Party, the name of the president has disappeared for a long time and that it is a rebellion. The word "insurrection" appears 38 times in the impeachment inquiry. Are you going to get rid of this rebellion? Chung Chung-rae, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said that. I was puzzled. What's wrong with this? This is something that I can't think of other things, and it's read as the intention to proceed quickly.

But as I said before, it can flow in a hurry. You shouldn't rush this important issue. There's a right to object. Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, has delayed the first trial for two years and two months. He also has the right to defend himself, so even now, the second trial lawyers do not appoint private lawyers, the election law. It's called the right to defend.

Doesn't President Yoon Suk Yeol also say he has a lot to say in this impeachment trial that risks his fate? Defense rights should be guaranteed, and this rebellion is the key, but many people are puzzled that the National Assembly's impeachment investigation team, especially Chung Chung-rae, chairman of the judiciary committee, will suddenly remove it. No matter how legally explained or detailed it is, it is such a bewildering act that goes against the common sense of the people.

So about this part, too. Of course, eight constitutional judges will hold a meeting and decide. The power of the people will protest. However, the conclusion will be made according to the law, I see it that way, but this part is hard for me to understand, my personal opinion.

[Anchor]
In the case of former President Park Geun Hye eight years ago, some pointed out that the current power of the people developed this logic. What do you think about this, professor?

[Choi Chang Ryul]
There's nothing wrong with removing the crime of rebellion. I'm not a constitutionalist. The reason is that impeachment is now linked to a number of criminal cases. But look, right now. Isn't the essence of this situation called emergency martial law?

However, the criminal law deals with whether the act of emergency martial law itself is a rebellion or not. What the Constitution deals with is whether or not emergency martial law itself conforms to the Constitution. However, according to the Constitution of Korea, the president's impeachment is subject to criminal prosecution in the case of rebellion, and no prosecution is received unless it is a rebellion. Nevertheless, impeachment was not a crime of rebellion for President Park Geun Hye.

Why were you impeached and why were you removed from office? It was because it violated the Constitution. What's a violation of the Constitution? It's exactly stated in Article 77 of the Constitution. Emergency martial law is a state of war, incident, or equivalent national emergency. Then, this situation itself seems to be seen by the president or those on the president's side as a national emergency. The opposition party seems to be over-impeaching impeachment, impeaching the auditor, passing the reduction budget all at once, as a national emergency, but that's what the Constitutional Court deals with.

So the Constitutional Court is doing it now, asking if it is justifiable to declare an emergency because it is in a national emergency. What's the problem when you say you're going to do it? The opposition party can criticize removing the crime of rebellion. However, the main point of the Constitutional Court's basic impeachment trial is to question the president's act of declaring emergency martial law, December 3, 2024, and whether the story was justified or not.

Therefore, it may be controversial, but it raises a number of other issues by taking this as an issue? It's not right, I think. [Park Sang-gyu] So the key point is that the National Assembly impeached politically, and with civil war at the forefront. The Constitutional Court will remove impeachment according to the law. I point out that there are definitely parts that are self-contradictory and incoherent.

[Anchor]
I see. We should continue to see what new moves the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit or the acting president Yoon's side make today. So far, we have been with Choi Chang-ryeol, a special professor at Yongin University, and Park Sang-gyu, a current affairs critic. Thank you both for listening.