Possibility of execution of arrest warrants this week...Impeachment Trial First Formal Debate Tomorrow

■ Host: Yoo Da-won Anchor, Kim Myung-geun Anchor
■ Starring: Baek Jong-gyu, Social Affairs Reporter

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN New Square 8PM] when quoting.

[Anchor]
We will continue to learn more about the emergency martial law investigation with reporters. Reporter Baek Jong-kyu of the Ministry of Social Affairs is here. Please come in. There are observations that the execution of the second arrest warrant for President Yoon is imminent. There is a prospect that it will happen within this week, but the concern seems to be a physical collision.

[Reporter]
Concerns over physical conflict are growing in the process of executing arrest warrants. If the security service is strongly discouraged, it cannot rule out the possibility of a conflict with the police in the worst case. An official from the special police investigation team said at a briefing today that they have planned an arrest and investigation of a security agency employee who interferes with the execution of the second arrest warrant for President Yoon. The police also warned that they would arrest the security service staff who interfered with the execution of the warrant as a current offender. He also mentioned that he is preparing measures such as dispersing the arrested employees and investigating them. However, the police emphasized that they would deal with the security service staff who cooperate in executing the warrant. Recently, there has been an atmosphere of confusion among frontline staff at the security service, which appears to be trying to induce internal agitation by using both pressure and conciliation strategies.

[Anchor]
In this situation, the police said they would execute the warrant with safety as the top priority. What kind of way is this being planned?

[Reporter]
The goal of the police is to execute warrants without casualties or bloodshed. A police official said, "I'm concerned that it seems to continue to induce casualties and bloodshed," stressing that he will execute the warrant by putting safety first. Acting National Police Agency Commissioner Lee Ho-young also attended a plenary session of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee and said that the security agency will actively take measures to interfere with the use of force according to the situation on the ground. He also stressed that the security service has no justification to prevent the police from executing legitimate arrest warrants. Police are considering ways to ensure safety and succeed in the second round of arrest warrants. There is a possibility that the execution of the warrant will be prolonged over two to three days, so we are preparing for this.

[Anchor]
Acting President Lee Ho-young also said that he could be arrested if lawmakers of the People's Power or Baekgol-dan blocked the execution. At the same time, they seemed to be distancing themselves from how to deploy police commandos.

[Reporter]
Acting President Lee also said that if Baekgol-dan, who held a press conference at the National Assembly with members of the People's Power, blocks the execution of an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, he could be arrested directly. This is what was said at the plenary session of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee today. Questions were raised about the arrest and deterrence of members of the People's Power, which said that if they actively block arrest, even the National Assembly can become a red-handed offender. Earlier, Rep. Kim Ki-hyun and Na Kyung-won gathered at the Hannam-dong residence and claimed that the warrant for President Yoon's arrest was unfair. Since then, he has expressed his intention to stop hand-to-hand combat. The acting president also hinted at the possibility of arresting the anti-communist youth group, saying it could be a red-handed offender for obstruction of justice. He also stressed that the arrest warrant for President Yoon is legal and that the president cannot reject it. In addition, the National Police Agency said that there was no request from the National Police Agency for the execution of the warrant, and that there were enough self-investigation personnel in the National Police Agency.

[Anchor]
As the execution of the second arrest warrant for President Yoon is on the countdown, I told you earlier that the police gathered with the heads of the Metropolitan Police Agency's regional investigation team to hold the second meeting. Is there a specific timing for the execution of the warrant?

[Reporter]
On the 10th, we called the heads of the metropolitan area's regional investigation team and held a two-hour meeting. After that, we had another second meeting today. Today's meeting brought together the heads of the Metropolitan Police Agency's wide-area investigation team in Seoul, northern Gyeonggi Province, southern Seoul, and Incheon. The meeting was held at the Mapo Office of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for an hour from 3 p.m. The meeting was attended by senior police officers, including the head of criminal activities and the head of the drug crime investigation. We discussed preparations for the execution of the second arrest warrant. It is said that no specific date has been set for the execution of the warrant. Earlier, on the 9th, the National Investigation Headquarters issued a general mobilization order to four police offices in the metropolitan area to cooperate because they could mobilize investigators from security and wide-area investigation teams. The target number of people is about 1,000.

[Anchor]
And there's also this talk in the political circle today. It is claimed that President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered the security officials to carry a knife and prevent them even if they were not guns, but in the end, he ordered the use of weapons.

[Reporter]
This is what Rep. Yoon Gun-young of the Democratic Party of Korea said at a press conference. It was secured through an informant inside the security office. He claimed that President Yoon ordered the police officers approaching me to arrest me to carry a knife, even if it was not a gun, to block me unconditionally. President Yoon also talked about the use of weapons at a luncheon with six security officials yesterday. It is said that six people, including Kim Sung-hoon, deputy head of the security service, Lee Kwang-woo, and Kim Shin, head of the family, were present at the luncheon. Rep. Yoon Kun-young made it clear that under the Security Act, it is clearly illegal for bodyguards to use weapons such as guns and knives under the current circumstances. President Yoon also stressed that he should immediately reveal whether he made such illegal instructions and what kind of answers Deputy Chief Kim, who is pushing the security service staff to death, also gave. Representative Yoon also appeared on radio broadcasts and introduced text messages sent to him by security officials. It also contained information that President Yoon ordered the use of weapons. "The message was an incredible disappointment to the security service staff who guard you for the situation where the president instructed you to use a weapon to prevent your arrest," the informant said.

[Anchor]
And the police are now investigating the presidential security service before the execution of an arrest warrant. Is there a possibility that some security agencies will choose a forced investigation method when the command of some security agencies refuses to request police attendance?

[Reporter]
Lee Kwang-woo, the head of the Presidential Security Service, who is accused of blocking and leading the arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol, has been notified of the summons to come out by this morning. The police notified the summons three times. The special investigation team of the National Police Agency asked Lee to attend by 10 a.m. today for an investigation, but he didn't come out. The special investigation team determines that there is a risk of Lee's escape and plans to apply for an arrest warrant. Director Lee is considered a hardliner in the representative security office along with Kim Sung-hoon, deputy head of the security office. Kim Sung-hoon, deputy head of the security service, also refused to comply with the request for attendance three times. The police are working on a way to secure a recruit. On the other hand, Park Jong-joon, a former chief of security who was considered a moderate within the security service, is under police investigation twice. I was present again this morning. First of all, in the official letter sent to the Ministry of National Defense, Lee Jin-ha, who is also selected as a moderate, also attended the police on the 11th. So far, two security officials have responded to the police's attendance. The police have also sent a request for attendance to Kim Shin, the head of the family department of the security service, to be investigated tomorrow. Some observers say that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit may apply for arrest warrants for Deputy Chief Kim Sung-hoon and Director Lee Kwang-woo, who refused to comply with the police's request three times, and may start executing a second arrest warrant for President Yoon after watching the issuance.

[Anchor]
In the meantime, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit sent an official letter of cooperation to the Ministry of National Defense and the Security Agency regarding the execution of President Yoon's arrest warrant. What did you send to the Ministry of National Defense first?

[Reporter]
The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit sent an official letter of cooperation to the Ministry of National Defense and the Presidential Security Service last night regarding the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol. Let me look at what I sent to the Ministry of National Defense first. The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit warned of civil and criminal responsibility and asked for cooperation in the execution of the warrant. The cooperation document pointed out that during the arrest and execution of the search warrant, the 33rd Military Police and 55th Guards dispatched to the Security Department can be punished if they are mobilized to the place of execution of the warrant or use equipment such as their unit vehicles to interfere with the execution of the warrant. He also warned that soldiers and the command that interfered with the execution of the warrant will be charged with obstructing the execution of special public affairs, obstructing the execution of special public affairs, and obstructing the exercise of rights to abuse authority. The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit also mentioned that if human and material damages occur during the execution process, civil liability such as claims for damages can also be held.

[Anchor]
So, it seems that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit told the command of the Security Service that they can be punished if they interfere with the legitimate execution of the warrant, and it's a kind of psychological aspect toward the security service staff. Are you showing the conciliation side or something like that?

[Reporter]
That's right. The Airborne Division also sent an official letter to the Ministry of National Defense, but the Airborne Division also sent an official letter of cooperation to six people in the security division. In an official letter, the Public Offices warned that if a member of the security service interferes with the execution of a warrant, he or she could be criminally punished for obstructing the execution of special public affairs, obstructing the execution of special public affairs, and abusing his or her authority, or liable for damages caused by civil misconduct. Also, this part hurts the most for civil servants. He also emphasized that there may be disadvantages such as loss of civil service qualifications under the National Public Officials Act and the Public Officials Pension Act, reemployment restrictions, and pension receipt restrictions. In addition, even if the security service staff does not comply with the illegal order to prevent the execution of the warrant, there will be no damage from the failure to comply with the order, such as the crime of dereliction of duty. Inside the security office, there are observations that there is a different atmosphere between hardliners and moderates. As a result, there seems to be a kind of psychological warfare aspect toward employees. Considering the differences in positions between the leadership and front-line personnel, it is interpreted as a separate attempt strategy to emphasize the legality of warrant execution and separate them.

[Anchor]
Meanwhile, President Yoon Suk Yeol seems to be actively engaged in a public opinion campaign. What are the positions?

[Reporter]
Tomorrow, the first argument of the Constitutional Court will take place. President Yoon Suk Yeol continues to state that the execution of an arrest warrant for President Yoon is illegal and unfair today, ahead of the first hearing of the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial. It is also argued that it is inappropriate to mobilize police in the process and execution of arrest warrants by the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. In addition, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit requested that the execution of the warrant be suspended so that the Constitutional Court can proceed with the impeachment trial. He also explained that if President Yoon is arrested by the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, he is expected to refuse any statements and that he will use the right to refuse statements. In addition, the current head of state, Dong-il, will have to answer the unilateral interrogation by the prosecutor of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit in an enclosed inspection room of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, adding that the newspaper and answers will not be disclosed immediately. At the same time, he asked which work is more important and which profit is more important, and whether the news value is higher.

[Anchor]
Yoon Gap-geun, a lawyer for the president, also issued a statement. You emphasized that the police and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit should keep the minimum legal obligations if they execute illegal warrants, right?

[Reporter]
Lawyers for President Yoon Suk Yeol continue to argue that the warrant issued by the Airborne Service is illegal and invalid. At the same time, if the police secretly execute illegal warrants under the command of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, they should keep at least the minimum legal obligation. That's how I emphasized it. That's how I explained it. The National Human Rights Commission of Korea emphasized that if there is a request to police officials to verify the identity of an interested person while performing their duties, they will be required to comply with the identification unless there are special circumstances. He argued that this is a necessary measure to prevent rioters from invading state secret facilities under the guise of police officers. In the meantime, he argued that it is an act of betrayal by the people who forget the basic responsibility of the police to put police officers who are supposed to protect public security and investigators who are supposed to wipe out drug crimes in the people's livelihood. He also issued a statement about the police investigation into security officials. The bodyguard is an impure intention to neutralize the command system, a self-harm to national security. Police abuse the investigative power of security officials and claim that it is a human rights violation. He also expressed his position on reports that he ordered the security service to review the use of weapons to prevent the arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol. President Yoon Suk Yeol refuted that he had never given such an order as "Use weapons," saying, "It is a public announcement of false information." He only emphasized the legal performance of his duties by the usual daily work manual. While the Joint Investigation Headquarters is expected to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon as early as this week, President Yoon Suk Yeol is focusing on public opinion by continuing to assert and repeat his positions.

[Anchor]
In this situation, President Yoon submitted a senior appointment to the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit yesterday. If it had been in a position to refuse the investigation, now it seems that the strategy has changed to respond to the investigation. What's the reason?

[Reporter]
There are four legal representatives for the President of Yoon Suk Yeol. Yesterday, he submitted his appointment to the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and announced a full-fledged response. These are lawyers Yoon Gap-geun, Bae Bo-yoon, Song Jin-ho, and Lee Gil-ho. It has shifted its posture from refusing to investigate the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit to respond to the investigation. It seems that the move was taken after detecting the atmosphere that the execution of the second arrest warrant, which was predicted to be a large-scale police force, was imminent. The submission of the seniority itself means that the lawyer will actively participate in the investigation process and exercise the suspect's right to defend himself. A typical situation is that a lawyer attends the suspect's interrogation and is involved in the statement process. It is predicted that President Yoon Suk Yeol will try to shake the legitimacy of the president's investigation by rallying his supporters through a public opinion war. It seems that they are using a strategy to shake the legitimacy of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit's investigation by public opinion and avoid detention until the results of the Constitutional Court's impeachment trial are released. There are also concerns that social conflict and division, which have already worsened since the emergency martial law, could reach an extreme level that is difficult to recover due to the public opinion war on the part of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

[Anchor]
Now let's talk about the impeachment trial of the Constitutional Court. With just a day before the first hearing of the impeachment trial, President Yoon's side is now saying that he has filed a request to avoid the judge, what is this about?

[Reporter]
President Yoon Suk Yeol's side first said that President Yoon Suk Yeol will not attend the first press day of the impeachment trial tomorrow. In the meantime, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and the police attempted to execute illegally invalid arrest warrants in an illegal way, which could lead to personal safety and mishaps. At the same time, I emphasized that personal safety and security issues must be resolved in order for the president's office to attend the constitutional trial. Then, today, he submitted an application to the Constitutional Court to challenge the Constitutional Court. Justice Chung was the chairman of the Korean Law Research Association with a progressive tendency. And he explained that it is difficult to expect a fair judgment from the judge, saying that the chairman of the foundation, which includes lawyer Hwang Pil-kyu, the spouse of the judge, is lawyer Kim Lee-soo, the co-representative of the National Assembly's delegation. President Yoon Suk Yeol's side also filed an objection to the announcement of the first formal hearing tomorrow at the second preparatory period on the 3rd. Regarding the withdrawal of the National Assembly's rebellion, he also said that the subject of judgment should be confirmed in a written statement and that the decision on the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Deok-soo should be made first to check whether the formation of the court was legitimate. He also said that it was a clear violation of the law that the Constitutional Court arbitrarily designated five dates without asking the opinions of the presidential representatives of Yoon Suk Yeol. I also filed an objection to this. At the same time, the Constitutional Court filed an objection to the decision, saying it should not receive records of cases under trial and investigation. Some have raised the possibility of delaying the trial process, which seems to be intended to delay the impeachment trial along with the investigation. Accordingly, Moon Hyung-bae, acting head of the Constitutional Court, convened a meeting of judges tomorrow morning to discuss the application for the avoidance of judges in political elections. The Constitutional Court may decide to dismiss the appeal if it is clear that the appeal is aimed at delaying the lawsuit.

[Anchor]
I see. So far, we've been with Baek Jong-gyu, a reporter from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Thank you for talking today.