Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit "President Denies Statement"...Yoon's side emphasizes 'decision'

[Anchor]
Let's connect the legal team reporters at the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and organize today's situation. Reporter Kim Chul-hee of the Youngsoo Kim, please tell us.

[Reporter]
I'm reporting on the execution of an arrest warrant and investigation of President Yoon Suk Yeol by the high-ranking government official's criminal investigation office. Let me summarize the back briefing of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit in the afternoon. The investigation started this morning at 11 o'clock. It's finished at around 1:30 p.m.

So I researched for about two and a half hours and had about an hour of rest. The investigation began again around 2:40. In the morning, Deputy Prosecutor Lee Jae-seung was in charge of the investigation. In the afternoon, senior prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan continues. However, it has been found that President Yoon Suk Yeol is refusing to make a statement in the investigation of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit.

It has also been confirmed that they are not recording because they refuse to record the video. It is also important whether or not to agree to the late-night investigation, but it has not been decided, and the official explained that it is a late-night investigation after 9 p.m. There are many legal experts who say that it is a step to request an arrest warrant.

But I was interested in where to claim it. This is because the defense argues that it is illegal to obtain an arrest warrant by requesting an arrest warrant under the unknown law. However, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit usually requests the place where the arrest warrant was issued, and if interpreted again, it seems that there is a high possibility that it will request an arrest warrant from the Western District Court.

There was a briefing from an official from the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit around 2:30 p.m. Didn't the President of Yoon Suk Yeol hold a press conference at the same time? What was it about?

[Reporter]
At around 2:40, lawyer Seok Dong-hyun held a press conference in front of the Seoul High Prosecutor's Office. The president seemed to avoid saying that he was arrested intentionally. He expressed that he made a decision to attend at random, but he claimed that the arrest was carried out without conflict thanks to the president's decision.

He explained that he made the decision because he was worried about citizens and security officials. If you request an arrest warrant, you will ask the Central District Court, not the Western District Court. It maintained its existing position that there was no jurisdiction in the Western District Court. As you said, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit has announced a request for the Western District Court, so the conflict between the two sides is expected to continue.

He also explained the meaning of the president's remarks that "the law has all collapsed," and expressed that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit committed illegal activities throughout the process of requesting, issuing and executing warrants. I also explained this part once again that the 55th Guard Corps' official document was falsely decorated. I told them that they must be held accountable.

He said it was illegal to execute an arrest warrant, but he said he is not considering arresting at this time. He explained that it is difficult for the president to attend the second hearing of the impeachment trial scheduled for tomorrow.

[Reporter]
As shown on the screen, since President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared at the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, supporters of President Yoon have been rallying in front of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit since the arrest warrant was executed. We are holding a rally on the road in front of the Gwacheon Government Complex to denounce the execution of the president's arrest warrant. Supporters of the president who gathered in front of the residence are expected to have moved to Gwacheon.

This is the screen that I'm showing you right now. We are continuing the rally with the Taegeukgi. It's about 100m away from here, where we're broadcasting now, and so many supporters gathered that they can hear the assembly here. You can also see a police bus nearby. The police are also preparing for an emergency.

As this rally was held, some entrances to the Gwacheon Government Complex are currently closed. Reporter Kim Chul-hee, the process of the execution of the arrest warrant. Please summarize the situation this morning again.

[Reporter]
The Joint Investigation Headquarters announced the arrest to the media at around 10:40 p.m. He said he executed an arrest warrant for President Yoon at 10:33 a.m. This is the first time in constitutional history that an incumbent president has been arrested. At around 10:53 p.m., the security guard vehicle with President Yoon arrived at the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit building.

Our reporters' cameras also captured the president getting out of the car and entering the building of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. The reporters were waiting for the so-called photo line in front of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. Entering the back door, reporters did not get a chance to ask questions.

The president's vehicle also went into the screen, so it didn't look right. It is believed that the intention was to minimize the exposure of the president. It has not been determined whether this is a security issue or due to the impact on public opinion.

[Reporter]
It seems that the president of Yoon Suk Yeol is currently undergoing an afternoon investigation for a little more than an hour. It is expected that he is probably refusing to make a statement as he did in the morning. President Yoon is accused of rebellion as the search warrant was released earlier in the morning.

As stated in Article 87 of the Criminal Code, the crime of rebellion is divided into three categories: the head, the important mission, and the person involved. In the case of the head, he or she can be sentenced to death or life imprisonment. If you participate in a plot, conduct or take important duties, you can be sentenced to death or life imprisonment for more than five years. Since the crime of rebellion is considered very serious, you can receive up to five years in prison for involvement in riots, and similar sentences for subordinates.

As President Yoon said, it has been confirmed that the head of the group was charged. The sitting president, as you know, has the privilege of fluoridation. However, civil war and foreign exchange crimes are not included in the fluoridation privilege.

Reporter Kim Chul-hee, since the investigation is continuing now and the arrest warrant has been executed, in the case of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, didn't you secure 48 hours? What is the next process?

[Reporter]
As you said, the arrest deadline is 48 hours. The investigative agency must request an arrest warrant within 48 hours after securing the suspect's whereabouts. If you don't, you have to release it. So you have to request an arrest warrant or release it by 10:33 a.m. on the 17th of Moraine.

As the arrest warrant was executed, it should be considered that the procedure for requesting an arrest warrant was actually taken. However, it seems necessary to judge the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit on whether to investigate only once or call one more time. Since he still maintains his current presidency, it seems highly likely that he will seek a warrant after conducting as many investigations as possible.

The next procedure is the same as the general criminal procedure. According to the court's judgment, the warrant review schedule will be scheduled the next day. The judgment will determine whether or not to be arrested. Depending on the issuance or dismissal of the warrant here, the fate of the future may be mixed, and attention is expected to be paid to what reason it will be dismissed or issued.

[Reporter]
Ahead of the investigation into Yoon Suk Yeol's president, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit has said it has prepared more than 200 pages of questionnaires. However, in the morning investigation, he exercised his right to remain silent, but it was not known to what extent he digested the questionnaire. So, we have to wait and see how much we will digest in the afternoon survey, how much the investigation will proceed, and whether we will respond to the late-night survey again.