As early as tomorrow, the warrant will be re-executed...Is "peaceful arrest" possible?

■ 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]
Let's take a look at the contents with Baek Jong-kyu, a reporter from the Social Ministry of Emergency Martial Law Investigation. Please come in. The police, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, and the Presidential Security Service held a three-way meeting today. However, it seems that the gap has not narrowed. First of all, how did the meeting happen?

[Reporter]
The three-way meeting between the police, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and the Presidential Security Service was first proposed by the police to prevent bloodshed. The meeting was held after accepting the security office, but I ended it after checking the difference in entrance. After the meeting, the Joint Investigation Headquarters said it asked the security office to cooperate for safe and peaceful execution of warrants, and said it was waiting for a response from the security office. There were opinions that they wished for a peaceful execution of the warrant, and they said no conclusion had been reached. The police first proposed the meeting, which seems to have sent the last "peaceful arrest" message to moderates within the security service.

[Anchor]
However, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit said that the three-way meeting would not affect President Yoon's plan to execute an arrest warrant. Then, should I say that the warrant will be executed as planned?

[Reporter]
During today's three-way meeting, some people contacted the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit around 8 a.m. yesterday evening and said they only heard opinions from the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, stressing that it is not a full review or such a step. It can be interpreted that it is difficult to suspend and review the warrant execution plan at a time when the discussion on the execution plan with the police has progressed considerably. He also added that the security service's position, which he confirmed at today's meeting, will not affect the execution plan of the warrant. I don't know about the possibility of additional meetings, he replied. Unless there are special circumstances, it can be interpreted as meaning that the second arrest warrant for President Yoon will be executed.

[Anchor]
Earlier, you said that the police proposed a meeting, but in the end, they are building a peaceful justification for arrest and shaking up the inside of the security office.

[Reporter]
Although the Presidential Security Service has launched an internal crackdown, it seems to be losing control through political and media reports. The bodyguard said in a statement today. It seems to mean that if you interfere with the arrest warrant, such as proposing discussions with the police and security agencies to prevent bloodshed, you will be punished criminally, and you will be lenient to employees who refuse illegal orders from the command. We are implementing a strategy to induce division and conciliate at the same time. However, he pointed out that prior approval of the person in charge is required for access to certain security district security zones, national security facilities, important national facilities, and military facility protection zones, including the presidential residence. Today, there is talk of building a justification, but it also means that if the police interfere with the arrest warrant, they will be punished for criminal punishment and leniency of employees who refuse illegal orders from the command. It is interpreted as the intention of the police to facilitate the execution of arrest warrants while deepening the internal strife at the security office. Police have booked five commanders of the Security Service on charges of obstructing the execution of special public affairs, but it is said that it is a little unusual to announce the fact that Kim Shin, the head of the family, has been booked. It is interpreted that the fact that only the second-level public official, the head of the headquarters, was summoned was informed, and that the announcement of the third-level manager level was aimed at internal division of the security office. The police and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, which are weighing the timing of the second arrest warrant, seem to have decided that it is advantageous to execute the warrant at a time when the division within the security service is maximized.

[Anchor]
The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and the police emphasize peaceful execution of the warrant, but they are planning to execute the second warrant against President Yoon as planned. The security service seems to have leaked information from within, but there seems to have been a stir inside, so what position did they express?

[Reporter]
The security service said it would try to prevent physical conflict in any case when executing arrest. However, the specific security zones mentioned earlier, including the presidential residence, are security zones, national security facilities, and important national facilities. He pointed out that prior approval of the person in charge is required. He then said it was illegal to force entry without prior approval. Since then, he has emphasized that he will respond to illegal enforcement according to the relevant laws and regulations in accordance with the existing security service manual. This is interpreted as the purpose of defining and preventing the execution of arrest warrants for the police and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit as "illegal."

[Anchor]
The timing of the execution of the second arrest warrant continues to be of interest. There are observations that they will try as early as tomorrow morning, but is there a special reason for tomorrow?

[Reporter]
It's coming out in detail until the time. It seems likely to be 5 a.m. tomorrow. This is because the entire environment for warrant execution is ripe. The reason was that a court was issued for the arrest of Kim Sung-hoon, deputy chief of the Presidential Security Service, known as a "hardliner" who is accused of obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol, and the police called the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and the Security Service to hold a third meeting, showing their willingness to execute the warrant. This is also because the division is maximized within the security office, and the police have even prepared to deploy a large-scale criminal task force. As soon as tomorrow, the police of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit will execute the second arrest warrant for President Yoon, the police will enter the official residence and first arrest Deputy Chief Kim Sung-hoon to shake the command system of the security office. Through the search, it is expected to take the step of attempting to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon. However, since it is a large-scale operation that mobilizes about 1,000 detectives, there is a possibility that the schedule will change as the operation plan is delivered. The police ordered the metropolitan investigation team of four police agencies in the metropolitan area to convene and prepare for mobilization. Usually, police are known to spread necessary matters, such as their roles, about 24 hours before the start of a large-scale arrest operation.

[Anchor]
On the other hand, if the Joint Investigation Headquarters re-enforce the warrant against the president, the 55th Guard Corps from the Ministry of National Defense, which guards the outskirts of the presidential residence, is not expected to block access to the residence?

[Reporter]
That's right. The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit received permission from the 55th Guard Corps guarding the presidential residence to enter the residence for the execution of arrest warrants. This afternoon, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit asked the 55th Guard Corps under the Capital Defense Command to enter the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, investigators from the National Investigation Headquarters, and investigators from the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters to receive a permission reply. The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit also sent the same official letter to the Presidential Security Service. However, the security service did not respond. Earlier, the 101·202 security team, which is a member of the police in charge of internal and external security at the residence, expressed its intention to cooperate with the execution of arrest warrants. As a result, it is expected that only about 500 employees of the Presidential Security Service, led by acting Chief of Security Kim Sung-hoon, will block the execution of arrest warrants.

[Anchor]
If the re-execution of the arrest warrant is carried out as expected tomorrow, the possibility of physical conflict with the security service cannot be ruled out, right?

[Reporter]
That's right. Today, the police, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, and the security service met in a three-way meeting, but they couldn't narrow the gap. The police and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit plan to attempt to execute the warrant as previously planned. As the execution of the warrant is imminent, some analysts say that conflicts between state agencies could become a reality. The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and the police have said they will prioritize the execution of warrants without casualties or bloodshed, but they are preparing for an arrest operation that lasts up to two to three days if they are blocked by the Presidential Security Service. The police are struggling with the opposition claim that President Yoon told the security officials to carry a knife even if they could not use a gun. The police are expected to execute the warrant by dividing personnel into the arrest and search team of President Yoon and the suppression team of the security service.

[Anchor]
And today, the police called in the heads of metropolitan metropolitan metropolitan means to hold the third meeting. What was mainly discussed today?

[Reporter]
The previous two meetings were held. The third meeting was held today. It was held from 10 a.m. today. We convened senior superintendent-level officers, including the head of criminal activities and the head of a drug crime investigation team from four police offices in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Seoul, Incheon, and southern and northern Gyeonggi Province. We discussed how to execute the arrest warrant for President Yoon. The meeting lasted for about two hours. It was confirmed that about five people, including a senior prosecutor of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and a rank-and-file prosecutor, also attended the meeting. It was found that he expressed his willingness to execute the warrant. We discussed specific plans to enter the Hannam-dong official residence, which was fortified with barrier walls and barbed wire. In particular, they discussed suppression of security agents who attempted to block enforcement, search for the residence, and arrest of President Yoon.

[Anchor]
This time, we will also look at the investigation of the command of the security service. Kim Shin, the head of the family who is suspected of obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon, refused to comply with the police summons. So two moderates have been investigated so far?

[Reporter]
It's two out of five. Kim Shin, the head of the Presidential Security Service, who is accused of obstructing the attempt to arrest President Yoon, refused to comply with the police summons. The head of the family is a person who guards his family in close proximity. He is considered a "hardliner" in the security office along with Kim Sung-hoon, deputy head of the security office, and Lee Kwang-woo, head of the security office. The police plan to ask Director Kim to attend again. In addition, five security officials who blocked the execution of President Yoon's arrest warrant have been booked and investigated. Among them, Park Jong-joon, a former bodyguard known as a moderate, and Lee Jin-ha, the head of the security and safety division of the bodyguard, responded to the investigation. However, Deputy Chief Kim and Director Lee refused to comply with the police's request for attendance three times. The police are expected to secure new recruits for Deputy Chief Kim and Director Lee first when executing the warrant.

[Anchor]
Meanwhile, Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok issued a public appeal this morning as the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon was imminent. In this appeal, President Yoon's current situation is expressed as "Goseong Nak-il" in four-character idioms.

[Reporter]
That's right. Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-seok said, "Please guarantee President Yoon Suk Yeol's right to self-defense amid observations that the execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon is imminent." He also said that even if his duties were suspended, he was still pushing President Yoon, the head of state and the highest constitutional institution, as if he were dealing with a drug gang in South America. The presidential office also added that it is ready to consult with the police and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. At the same time, he said, "Please cooperate so that we can conduct investigations at a third place or review all visit investigations." At the same time, he is not asking President Yoon to give special cases. He also emphasized that the Yoon Suk Yeol, a natural person, should not be silenced by partisan agitation and occasional oppression of institutions that mislead the facts. The most worrisome is the possibility of a clash between police and security services, and he said that if state agencies and agencies collide, they cannot be mediated or coordinated, adding that such a thing could lead to an unimaginable tragedy. At the same time, he also stressed to Acting President Choi Sang-mok that the person who can prevent this conflict now is Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who serves as the head of the administration. He also said he should follow the guidelines and directions of the police, the bodyguard, and the acting chief Choi.

[Anchor]
However, President Yoon's lawyers expressed another position regarding Director Jeong Jin-seok's position. What was this about?

[Reporter] Yun Gap-geun, a lawyer for President
Yoon, expressed a negative stance on the contents of Presidential Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-suk's appeal to the public. Lawyer Yoon said there has been no discussion or review of Chung's appeal to the public. In an appeal to Director Chung, he explained that there was no discussion in advance about the third site survey or visit survey proposed to guarantee President Yoon's right to defend himself. There is a temperature difference from Chung's position, and it seems to stick to the existing position of the lawyers that the investigation of President Yoon itself by the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, which does not have the right to investigate the rebellion, is illegal. Lawyer Yoon Gap-geun also said that Chief Jeong seemed to have expressed his personal opinion out of desperation in the hope of avoiding conflict because there were various concerns. He also explained that there is no possibility that President Yoon will voluntarily attend the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. He also maintained his existing position that basically the investigation of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit is illegal.

[Anchor]
Now, let's look at the impeachment trial of the Constitutional Court. The first hearing date ended in four minutes as President Yoon did not attend due to personal safety concerns following the attempt to execute the arrest warrant?

[Reporter]
The Constitutional Court held the first hearing of President Yoon's impeachment trial at 2 p.m. today, but ended the trial after confirming that both parties and their representatives were present. Acting Constitutional Court Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae said he would not proceed with the hearing in accordance with Article 52 (1) of the Constitutional Court Act because the respondent was not present today. At the same time, he announced that the pleading process will proceed even if the parties do not attend on the next pleading date. Today's judgment was attended by the National Assembly's prosecution committee, representatives, and representatives of President Yoon. Article 52 of the Constitutional Court Act stipulates that if the party does not appear at the hearing, the date can be set again and if it does not appear on that date, the hearing can be held in absent state. The first hearing of the impeachment trial ended in four minutes due to the absence of Yoon Suk Yeol's president. He said he was absent due to personal safety concerns caused by the attempt to execute an arrest warrant for Yoon Suk Yeol's president. The second hearing of President Yoon's impeachment trial will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, the 16th.

[Anchor]
Today, the Constitutional Court rejected President Yoon's request for a challenge against a political justice. What was the reason?

[Reporter]
Acting Constitutional Court Chief Justice Moon Hyung-bae rejected President Yoon's application to challenge judges in political elections yesterday. Seven constitutional judges, except Jeong, expressed a consensus and said they served the decision in the morning. However, the court did not explain the specific basis for the judgment that the Constitutional Court did not accept the Yoon Suk Yeol's claim that it was a case where it was difficult to expect a fair trial while applying for a challenge. Regarding the collective designation by the 5th hearing date, acting Moon said it was based on Article 30 (2) of the Constitutional Court Act and Article 21 (1) of the Constitutional Court's judgment rules, and that the criminal procedure rules were not applied. And then I said this. He emphasized that this is a constitutional court, not a criminal court.

[Anchor]
I think President Yoon, who applied for a challenge to this content, would have protested. You emphasized that it doesn't fit legal principles, fairness, and common sense?

[Reporter]
President Yoon Suk Yeol's lawyer and Yoon Gap-geun met with reporters after the first hearing of the impeachment trial. At the same time, he said he is sorry that he rejected the appeal without reason. He then stressed that he will urge judges in political circles to avoid themselves, saying, "It is a court of justice with style, and I think that judges with style will avoid themselves." However, the decision has already been made by the Constitutional Court, so it seems unlikely to be reversed in reality. Attorney Yoon Gap-geun did not accept the objection to the Constitutional Court's collective designation of the 5th anniversary at once. In this regard, he argued that there was no reason to designate the date five times expediently, and that the Constitutional Court was overstepping its authority. Asked how to prove that the situation was an emergency equivalent to a wartime or emergency at the time of the emergency declaration, he said it could be different from the situation judged by the president and by the public, and that he would prove it at trial. He added that he would make a comprehensive report on whether President Yoon will attend in person on the second hearing date. In response, the National Assembly's prosecution panel set up a day of criticism over President Yoon Suk Yeol's absence from the first hearing, calling it "constitutional hostility."

[Anchor]
Let's stop here. So far, we've looked into it with Baek Jong-gyu, a reporter from the Ministry of Social Affairs. Thank you for talking today.