[Issue Plus] Constitutional history's first arrest of a sitting president...Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit "refusing to state"

■ Host: Lee Yeo-jin, anchor Jang Won-seok
■ Starring: Lee Chang-geun, chairman of the party's cooperation committee, and Seol Ju-wan, former vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's legal committee

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

[Anchor]
For the first time in constitutional history, President Yoon Suk Yeol has been arrested as an incumbent president by an investigative agency.

[Anchor]
Related information Let's point out Lee Chang-geun, chairman of the party's cooperation committee, and Seol Joo-wan, former vice chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's legal committee. Welcome.

[Anchor]
The arrest warrant was executed 43 days after the martial law incident and 15 days after the first arrest warrant for President Yoon was issued. How did you like it?

[Changgeun Lee]
It's really disastrous. It is disastrous and unfortunate as a member of the people's power. However, after the first arrest warrant failed to be executed, there was time before the second arrest warrant was issued. Is arrest the answer on the 6th? If the purpose is to investigate in a third way, we should compromise and find such a compromise. I've said that before. And yesterday, Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok proposed similar content on the same line, but President Yoon's lawyer refused. The arrest warrant was executed in a surprise move due to refusal, and there were no such incidents such as casualties or bloodshed in the process, but it is true that Korea's national dignity has fallen today. And not only the ruling party but also all political circles should take joint responsibility for this, not just for the ruling party, but for some people to be happy and fall, and for others to be miserable.

[Anchor]
How did Vice Chairman Seol see it from the 3rd of last month to today?

[Seol Joo-wan]
It's a little late, but with the president's arrest warrant being executed and the investigation going on today, I think there are some signs that the unstable political situation will be resolved to some extent after the emergency martial law. In a way, most of the most static, now-related mission workers involved in the rebellion charge have now been arrested and charged. However, if the pros and cons continue at the entrance of Hannam-dong, where the president's official residence is located, and whether the investigative agency will execute it or not continues to be a problem, the situation could have continued to be very unstable for external trustees and the country as a whole, but I think it has now been the first step toward stabilization in that it was executed without any conflict. Next, I think this situation can be stabilized more quickly depending on the speed of the investigation and the handling of the president's recruits.

[Anchor]
There were concerns about mishaps such as physical collisions, and it was finished relatively quickly compared to what we had in mind for up to two nights and three days, right?

[Changgeun Lee]
In that part, I think internal changes in the security service are the biggest factor. In fact, there have been internal disturbances about the security service staff, and one of the security service staff's wives has written publicly. In fact, there is no punishment or blame for the soldiers who were passive on December 3rd when we saw martial law that shouldn't happen, right? In fact, I don't think there will be any such criticism that the security service staff did not fulfill their responsibilities during the execution of the arrest warrant. Because the security service staff are also a professional and have a family, they cannot carry out their duties in front of the law, and it seems that there was a strong internal agitation. Therefore, it seems that the arrest warrant was executed without such an easy incident. With this incident, President Yoon continues to claim that it is illegal and that it is a wrong investigation, but by now, the president should not blame the security service staff's fault more confidently and not blame it. That's why I want you to confidently investigate.

[Anchor]
Yoon explained that the arrest warrant was executed without conflict thanks to the president's decision, how did you see the arrest process?

[Seol Joo-wan]
I think it's an interpretation of the president's side, which is too much of a takeover. You're putting the result theory together. So, when it comes to emergency martial law, the president and the president's lawyers always say, "How can there be a two-hour martial law?" And he unilaterally practiced martial law as a warning. I think this is all because martial law measures have failed, so I think the consequential interpretation has been put in their favor. It's the same today. Today, for example, if the security officials came out hard and there was a big conflict, would they have been willing to solve it? If I had such a will, I should have already voluntarily attended before the execution of today's arrest warrant.

But today, the first, second, and third defense lines were almost emptied in a way. On the contrary, the security service staff responded very passively, so this could lead to an ugly appearance. I think I came out of the urgency of being able to see the president in handcuffs wearing a genealogy tool, so I think I continued negotiations with the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit for an hour over voluntary attendance. I really don't think it will look that good to the majority of people to be consistent with these excuses until the end.

[Anchor]
It was easy to execute the arrest warrant because of the passive attitude of the security service, but the 55th and 33rd Military Police Guards, which were mobilized as human belts at the time of the first execution, were not noticeable this time, and the police were fully prepared this time, right? In the first round, there were 120 people, but this time, the number has increased significantly to 1000.

[Changgeun Lee]
That's right. In fact, the police prepared it firmly. And there was a lot of criticism about the mobilization of military forces. So this time, the acting minister in the military asked not to mobilize military troops this time. So the military didn't come forward. And the police force was mobilized more than eight times as many as the bodyguards. And because we prepared it thoroughly, it could be implemented quickly. Above all, however, as I said earlier, the police and the airlift prepared it, but the internal disturbance was the most severe. I think that's the biggest direct factor.

[Anchor]
Nevertheless, the president still insists that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit committed illegal activities in the process of requesting, issuing, and executing warrants. In particular, there was some confusion last night. He said, "We must be held accountable based on the fact that the 55th Guard Corps' official letter was made false." How did you hear this?

[Seol Joo-wan]
I heard there was an illegal tyrannical entry, didn't we see each other from 5 a.m. today? I kept doing live broadcasts. It was carried out peacefully to the extent that there was no resistance even to the defense or even the police officers who were going up, but if you look at the reviews that came out, it was carried out. That's why the president said there was some tyrannical and illegal execution, but I don't think there was one. And all of this is recorded in video for the evidence. Therefore, if you look at such video recordings, I think there was no illegal content from the police going into execution. Yesterday's problem and the issue related to the official seal of the 55th Guard commander, I think this should be viewed separately.

For example, if you just summoned the seal for another investigation, and you took it and took it with the seal of the 55th security commander, and you did this without permission, it could be a crime of coercion. Then, it can be a crime of forgery of official documents, which I think should be examined separately, but today's execution of an arrest warrant is illegal. I think that's too much of an expanded interpretation.

[Anchor]
Currently, President Yoon is said to be exercising his right to refuse to make a statement at the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, but didn't he send a pre-recorded video message released after the execution of the arrest warrant? In fact, it is the sixth public conversation since the declaration of the emergency martial law, and it was officially revealed 32 days after the announcement on December 14. How did you like it?

[Changgeun Lee]
There is no significant change from the message at the time of December 14th. President Yoon's message is still unfair to investigate by the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. It is illegal to issue arrest warrants. The rule of law has collapsed. That's what they're saying. There are various opinions within the party on this. However, I personally want to say that the president's message is disappointing today. I thought that the last message I expected as a president was this way as he was on his way to investigation after an arrest warrant was issued today. The first one is a message to the nation. Even if the injustice of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit is still valid, it is such an arrest warrant issued by the court. Then, even if the rule of law has collapsed, I will go to the Constitution and the law in accordance with the Constitution and the law. I thought it would be nice to send a message like this, saying, "The people should not be divided anymore, but should be integrated."

The second message is to the Opposition. I admit that it is unfair on my own, but I will go to trial with confidence, so CEO Lee Jae-myung, you should still not show this kind of delay and go to trial with confidence, wouldn't you have received more applause? And finally, it is not the people who will fight for the power of our people. It's the opposition party and representative Lee Jae-myung. Therefore, there is a regret that the power of the people should compete with the opposition party and representative Lee Jae-myung for the people's livelihood.

[Anchor]
This is what President Yoon reportedly said before leaving his official residence, which was reportedly delivered by Presidential Chief of Staff Chung Jin-suk. The most important thing for me at this moment is not to hurt the people. How did you see the message's intention that he said he would fight with the people until the end?

[Seol Joo-wan]
What did you write to the anti-impeachment supporters who supported you in front of the Hannam-dong residence last time, and those who supported President Yoon Suk Yeol? I'm watching it well through real-time YouTube broadcasts. And as it is now, I still don't think the perception of reality has changed from the emergency martial law. Therefore, I think Chairman Lee Chang-geun said well earlier about the part where he continues to issue such appeals to his supporters. I don't think such a part is very desirable even if we look at the national interest of the Republic of Korea as a whole. Now you're still the current president, aren't you? Then, if it is for the country and the people, a representative grand message should come out, but I will fight to the end with a message that is only shown to those supporters who are only appealing for their support. Who the hell are you going to fight? I don't think the majority of the people who fight with the people are. That's why I don't think that the president is still aware of the reality that is close to delusional and that he is still repenting of his mistakes, so there are a lot of judicial proceedings left in the future. Among them, I hope you will be aware of the reality properly, receive the investigation sincerely, and go to trial.

[Anchor]
Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok also said this. We said we would voluntarily attend, but the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit said it could not give up the execution of the arrest warrant. How should I listen to this?

[Changgeun Lee]
That's very unfortunate. Chief of Staff Jeong Jin-seok came up with a compromise yesterday. There is a regret that it would have been better to investigate in the form of a voluntary attendance in a third place or in accordance with the president's courtesy. However, President Yoon's lawyer rejected it. I think that's why I did that kind of practice. Nevertheless, the president is now being investigated, although the media reports that this is the first time in the history of the constitution of an arrest warrant. The president is more confident in his investigation, and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit has been suspended from his duties, but he is still a sitting president. Although it is said that it is polite, if the purpose is to investigate, the purpose is to take such reasonable measures for the purpose of the investigation, and I don't think it is desirable to disgrace the president or anything like that. It is also true that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit has made many mistakes.

So, isn't there a discussion about the existence of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit even at the National Assembly? Therefore, it is necessary to reflect on the shortcomings of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, and the shortcomings of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit Act should be supplemented. That's one thing. It is the injustice of the arrest warrant and the injustice of the investigation that President Yoon continues to insist on. The contents corresponding to Article 31 of the Public Offices Act are related to the prosecution. In other words, the right to prosecute is not in the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. The prosecution has the power to prosecute the president. If so, it is said that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit applied the Criminal Procedure Act to issue arrest warrants, but even that part is controversial because it is insufficient in the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit Act. In these areas, we need to reflect on the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and improve what we need to improve ourselves.

[Anchor]
And hasn't the handwritten letter that President Yoon wrote at the beginning of the new year been released after being escorted to the Gwacheon Government Complex? Since you are a legal professional, martial law was a legitimate measure to investigate allegations of fraudulent elections. He claimed that it was the exercise of the president's authority, that it could not be a crime of rebellion. How do you interpret this?

[Seol Joo-wan]
The constitution stipulates that this part is a requirement for emergency martial law, although it continues to repeat such claims from the beginning to the present. In some cases, it stipulates emergencies and correctly states that there is no longer a possibility of maintaining social order with the police force due to an urgent social turmoil, such as a war or emergency. The constitution does not stipulate that emergency martial law cannot be enforced to investigate fraudulent elections. There is no such situation presupposed. However, if there are suspicions about fraudulent elections, there are prosecutors and police. Wouldn't there be a lot of investigative agencies in Korea? There's the Board of Audit and Inspection.

But you're just going to defeat all those things and use soldiers to find out about rigged elections? There can't be such a thing. So, I think you're misinterpreting the Constitution, so it's impossible to declare an absolute emergency martial law to dig into fraudulent elections. I hope you know that it's absolutely impossible, but you're still in that delusion, and something's wrong. I don't know who said that about that, but I think the president himself is misreading that part.

[Anchor]
The morning survey was conducted from 11 o'clock to 1:30 a.m. now. Also, an afternoon survey will be conducted from 2:40 to 5:50, and now it's dinner time. You said you had dinner until 7 o'clock and that you haven't decided whether to conduct a late-night investigation yet, what do you expect about this?

[Changgeun Lee]
I was investigated today, but I continue to exercise my right to remain silent, isn't there a lot of this? If so, it is possible to conduct a late-night investigation, but I wonder if it will be effective for that late-night investigation. And President Yoon's right to remain silent now is not a confident in the investigation, but an act that shows that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit is still committing illegal acts and that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit's investigation or arrest warrant is wrong. So, rather than conducting a late-night investigation, doesn't the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit still have time?

So such a rational investigation through the next choice is right, and we do an overnight investigation with unreasonable consent? In fact, at the time of President Park Geun Hye, ironically, at the time, President Yoon Suk Yeol was in a position to investigate. At that time, Samsung Chairman Lee Jae-yong and everyone did an overnight survey and said they only slept for an hour, wasn't there a lot of criticism? I don't think such things should be done again at this opportunity.

[Anchor]
It is known that there are about 200 pages of questions prepared by the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. President Yoon is reported to be exercising his right to refuse to make a statement, but since the time to secure a Yoon Suk Yeol presidential recruit is 48 hours now, will this be enough to investigate, what do you think?

[Seol Joo-wan]
I think it's enough time. Of course, since the president is probably not making detailed statements, I think most of the answers will probably be written down as silent answers or exercising the right to refuse to make statements. However, the president can plan future trial strategies by looking at the contents of the questionnaire. The investigative agency is focusing on asking about this. Then, you can prepare such things as explanatory materials for refutation in a certain trial process that can refute that part. So, I think I'll look at the questions as a whole, listen to the questions, and then figure out the questions and prepare for future trial strategies. In that sense, it will be by 10:33 the day after tomorrow, which is 48 hours now. So, as I said earlier, the reason why voluntary attendance is not possible is that if you voluntarily attend, this arrest warrant becomes effective.

The reason why the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit announced earlier that the arrest warrant was executed at 10:33 a.m. was because the arrest time had to be 48 hours, so it was necessary to set a time to decide the starting point and to make an official declaration that the arrest warrant would be executed, but if you voluntarily attend, there is no way to stop you if you say you will voluntarily attend today, there is no way to enforce it. That's why I thought it was impossible at the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. I think it's only a matter of time before I ask for an arrest warrant as early as 10:30 the day after tomorrow, or I think I'll ask for an arrest warrant at around 9 a.m. the next day.

[Anchor]
As you said, you have until 10:33 a.m. on Friday to request an arrest warrant or release it. Even if you continue to exercise your right to remain silent, will you spend your time like this as much as possible, or how do you expect the time tomorrow or the day after tomorrow?

[Changgeun Lee]
Of course, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit expects to request an arrest warrant. However, in my personal opinion, if you compare the benefits of requesting an arrest warrant with the benefits of not, of course, the expression profit is a little bit like that. The Constitutional Court's ruling continues. If the Constitutional Court's argument continues and the past cases respect the president's will that the Constitutional Court's judgment comes first, it is expected that President Yoon will no longer participate in the Constitutional Court's argument under arrest. Because what I said through my lawyer on January 8th was that I would participate in the Constitutional Court on the premise that my personal safety was guaranteed. So, as expected the next day, of course, I did not attend the Constitutional Court on the 14th.

So, if an arrest warrant is issued, the Constitutional Court will proceed without President Yoon in the future. There are many objections to the Constitutional Court within the party. Of course, it would be right for President Yoon to attend to eliminate those parts and secure national legitimacy. Of course, he said he would attend. Then, rather than issuing an arrest warrant, I think it would be better to organize the investigation in a way that can continue without detention and be judged by the Constitutional Court.

[Anchor]
President Yoon has repeatedly emphasized that he is not acknowledging the investigation of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit through various messages he has released so far. Maybe that's why I'm refusing to make a statement now. The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit said earlier that there is no reason to conduct an overnight investigation at this time, but if they continue to refuse to make statements, won't the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit have fewer cards to choose from when requesting an arrest warrant?

[Seol Joo-wan]
is not. I'm actually denying my guilt. We have three reasons for issuing an arrest warrant, and we are concerned about the seriousness of the crime, the fear of destroying evidence, and the fear of fleeing, but we will not be afraid to escape for now. The most problem is that if the seriousness of the crime is suspected of rebellion, I think it is admitted. The problem is the fear of destroying evidence, but he denies the crime. I'm not admitting my guilt. When a suspect usually denies a crime, I think there is a risk of destroying evidence. And there is no investigation of the president's cell phone, personal phone, or non-cell phone at all. I don't know if this is being submitted randomly.Ma says that if there is no cooperation from the president in this area, there are concerns about the destruction of evidence. If so, I think I can request an arrest warrant based on these reasons if the president continues to refuse to make statements that remain silent and unanswered.

I hope the president will also actively participate in the Constitutional Court ruling. Even if an arrest warrant is issued, it is possible. Even if an arrest warrant is issued anyway, as expected now, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit will be on the 10th and then the prosecution will be on the 10th, and I think the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit will be able to transfer to the prosecution faster. Then I don't know if the prosecution will refuse to make a statement anyway.In any case, the Constitutional Court is allowed to attend even if Ma is in custody. If so, through coordination with any investigation, through the investigation process or such coordination, I have no choice but to reveal it during the trial if the president continues to refuse to state even the prosecution. During the trial, the prosecution has no choice but to ask the contents of the current record through the defendant's newspaper. If so, I don't think the president will use an arrest warrant for any impeachment trial. I think it would be good if the president attended the impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court in person and actively defended it.

[Anchor]
In the past, former presidents Roh Tae-woo, Chun Doo-hwan, Lee Roh Moo Hyun, Lee Park Geun Hye and Lee Lee Myung Bak responded to the prosecution's investigation after leaving office, but no one exercised the right to refuse to make statements throughout the entire investigation. Do you think the prosecution will exercise President Yoon's right to refuse to make a statement?

[Changgeun Lee]
That's what I'm expecting right now. Isn't the view too different? As seen through a handwritten letter or video from the President of Yoon Suk Yeol today, martial law was still reasonable, martial law was in effect and there was no fault. With this recognition, if the questions go against your will in the prosecution's investigation, of course, you won't talk about them. And he said that he would make a public argument because it is a judgment of whether or not he maintains the presidency through the Constitutional Court. So, of course, I will exercise the right to remain silent because it is said that it is meaningless to do it in a closed space in front of the investigator. However, if an arrest warrant is issued or an investigation is conducted without detention without an arrest warrant, if it is prosecuted, it will have to go to the presiding judge whether it is an arrest or an indictment without detention. Of course, you may or may not go to the presiding judge. However, if you don't go to the presiding judge, you will be very disadvantaged by the court in itself. In that situation, he may be able to claim his strong will, but of course, if questions arise against his will during the prosecution investigation, he will be able to continue to exercise his right to remain silent.

[Anchor]
President Yoon should ask the Central District Court for an arrest warrant even though he has to ask for it now. I'm talking about it, but since the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit received an arrest warrant from the Western District Court, I think they'll also request an arrest warrant from the Western District Court. What do you think about this?

[Seol Joo-wan]
I think it might feel a little unfair. Why does the president keep doing this to the Western District Court? Originally, even according to the Public Offices Act, the Seoul Central District Court is the jurisdiction court. The exception is that the current residence or the president's Hannam-dong residence is under the jurisdiction of the Western District Court, but that part is exemplarily stipulated.Ma said it's not illegal any time soon. From the president's point of view, he says this is too easy to get a warrant, but from the point of view of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, for example, then the president makes a claim to the Central District Court. But if the arrest warrant was rejected. Then, from the point of view of the investigation or from the other side, or from the point of view of disagreement with the president of Yoon Suk Yeol, I think that the central law has nothing to do with the president and that the warrant is rejected like this, but it has to be interpreted politically as a result. If so, I will do it in the Western District Court, where I originally obtained an arrest warrant.

I'm a little puzzled about the fact that the president didn't apply for an arrest suit today. Until now, we have continuously argued for the illegality of arrest warrants, but it can be seen that the legal procedure for objection to it is an arresting pride, and I think it is rather self-admitting that there is no illegality to say that it is not illegal at all. The same goes for warrants. Even if a warrant is issued, there is another procedure called binding pride. If any warrant issued is wrong. That's why I don't know where to claim these warrants from the president's side. When I saw this, I asked the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit what kind of judge they were shopping for, and conversely, the president said the same thing. What on earth is the reason for asking for the Central District Court? It's not a principle, it's not illegal, is it? However, continuing to insist on that part is rather criticizing the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit on its own.

[Anchor]
Do you think the Seoul Western District Court is more likely to issue an arrest warrant than the Seoul Central District Court?

[Changgeun Lee]
I don't know that part. I don't know, but as you said, President Yoon's lawyer is also making an error now, and I think the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, which caused such controversy in the beginning, should reflect on it. As I said earlier, Article 31 of the Public Offices Act is a regulation on the jurisdiction of the courts regarding the right to prosecute. However, there is no public prosecutor's office for indictment against the president. That is also the deficiencies of the law. In addition, it is natural that we can criticize the controversy of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit using the Western District Court in the first place. It's also wrong to do something that would be misunderstood. Nevertheless, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit did not provide a clear explanation. I was just saying that I applied the Criminal Procedure Act. Then, of course, the president's lawyer can raise an objection. However, even if the president's lawyer raised an objection, the objection was rejected by the court. If so, it is not right to act like denying the court and the judicial system. So, when you file a claim with the Western District Court, it is more likely to be issued, and I think this controversy itself is wrong. So now, I think the president's lawyer should leave it to the court's time, and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit should reflect on the public misunderstanding and controversy, and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit should play the role of Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit.

[Anchor]
If the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit requests an arrest warrant and the warrant is issued, Vice Chairman Seol told the prosecution that the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit would be securing recruits like this on the 10th and before the 10th, because the prosecution has the authority to prosecute, right?

[Seol Joo-wan]
That's right. It's been discussed in advance. Even when the transfer was requested, the prosecution and the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit agreed in advance that if an arrest warrant is issued, the arrest period is up to 10 days, of which the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit has already agreed to do 10 days and the prosecution 10 days. However, there seems to be nothing more to do at the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. The prosecution said earlier that the president will continue to exercise his right to refuse to make statements as he feels, but I think it can be a little different when I go to the prosecution. Now, the prosecution has arrested all military officials related to the rebellion mission, and all police officials. Then it seems that the investigation into them has been faithfully conducted. In particular, if you look at the indictment against former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, it was confirmed that the investigation was conducted in so much detail that it was almost a construction site for President Yoon.

If so, I think there will be more data and evidence records in the prosecution than in the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit right now. Based on that, for example, when conducting a newspaper on the president, the president did not make a statement at the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, but I also think the prosecution may make a statement. So I don't know what's going to happen.Ma said, "Isn't it right for the transfer to be made a little earlier by the prosecution?" I don't think there's any reason to keep it for 10 days when there's nothing more to do at the airlift. Therefore, if you request an arrest warrant and issue a warrant, I think it would be more efficient to find the truth of the matter by leaving it to the prosecution for about 15 days or two weeks after holding it at the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit for about four to five days.

[Anchor]
In the meantime, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit has been criticized for its lack of investigative capacity and incompetence, but if an arrest warrant is issued following the execution of an arrest warrant today, wouldn't this label be able to be fired?

[Changgeun Lee]
I don't think so. Because the controversies the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit has shown so far are so obvious. And the arrest warrant was actually a success because of the internal disturbance of the security service and the mobilization of a large number of police personnel, not the ability of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit itself. And as lawyer Seol said earlier, I don't know if an arrest warrant will be issued and an arrest warrant will be requested or not, but I think there is a limit to the investigation with the capabilities of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. They say they prepared more than 200 pages of the questionnaire, but it's too much even if you think about the questionnaire about the suspect who committed the felony crime.

We will have to look again at whether each questionnaire is necessary and valid or to ask the question. Of course, if you look at the contents of the indictment when the prosecution prosecutes it later, how faithfully the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit came over. The data. It'll come out. So, the investigation capability of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit has been proven through this opportunity. I think the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit should take this opportunity to reflect more.

[Anchor]
After the execution of the first arrest warrant, the contents were slightly different, but wasn't the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit criticized by both the ruling and opposition parties? If the arrest warrant is rejected this time, the criticism of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit will be stronger. What do you think?

[Seol Joo-wan]
If the arrest warrant is dismissed, the investigation will inevitably be disrupted. Whether the investigation is conducted while in custody or without detention. This is very burdensome for the investigative agency, which has to file a prosecution and maintain the prosecution, which also investigates the trial strategy on the president's side, and the overall plan is completely wrong. If so, I think the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit will probably do its best to issue a warrant. If the warrant is rejected, the political criticism the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit will receive and the criticism of those who supported the impeachment will be criticized by the public, which is not easy for the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit to handle, but my prediction is that it will be very difficult for the arrest warrant to be rejected. Most of the people who followed all the instructions under which they were engaged in civil war, the rest of the issues, especially with regard to the seriousness of the crime and the charge of civil war, are in custody. If so, the president who ordered it cannot be arrested? I think that doesn't make sense logically.

[Anchor]
That's true, but isn't it more difficult to issue an arrest warrant than an arrest warrant? What should the investigative agency do if they can't be arrested?

[Changgeun Lee]
In fact, if the arrest warrant is rejected as you said, the limitations of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit are more clearly proven. If so, won't the choice now be decided whether to investigate without detention or indict without detention? So the prosecution has the power to prosecute. Then, with the arrest warrant dismissed, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit should abandon its insistence on investigation and, of course, hand it over to the prosecution, which has the right to prosecute, so that the prosecution can do everything now. That is the right direction and that may quickly end the controversy over the special prosecution, which is now being debated in the National Assembly. However, since these controversies are not sorted out, don't the National Assembly take care of people's livelihoods, and the ruling and opposition parties still confront and fight with the special prosecutor? So, the special prosecutor should be aware of why the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit started from this controversy and quickly organize their positions.

[Anchor]
About 30 members of the People's Power gathered in front of the Hannam-dong residence early this morning to criticize the execution of the warrant. Reps. Kim Ki-hyun and Na Kyung-won raised their voices, but I think the number was a little lower than in the first round. How did you see this dot
?

[Changgeun Lee]
In fact, there are many opinions within the People's Power Party. In short, the opinion that martial law was justified from the opinion that President Yoon and his lawyers agreed on, but the investigation and arrest warrant of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit itself was unfair and illegal, and that the martial law was wrong and that the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol was justified. And with the issuance of an arrest warrant this time, the public's power will leave the investigation and trial to the court and the prosecution, and we will return to the people's livelihood. These various opinions exist.

Now, the opinion that the power of the people should probably look at the people even if it is given by lawmakers like this is increasingly dominant. In other words, the party has to look to the future. And the party is ultimately judged by the vote. If so, the idea that our party should go from now on is to leave the issue of President Yoon to the Constitutional Court and the court, and the party should only go toward people's livelihoods for the future. The opponent we will fight against is the Democratic Party of Korea and Chairman Lee Jae-myung. If we keep all that in mind, I think we can see the way forward for the party.

[Anchor]
When the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and President Yoon coordinated the execution of the warrant, ruling party lawmakers reportedly entered the official residence and met with President Yoon. In this situation, they reportedly asked what they would do in addition to the remaining two-and-a-half years in office. How did you hear this?

[Seol Joo-wan]
The president told the ruling party lawmakers who came to comfort or support him that there are so many pro-North Korean leftists in the country, so what's the point of serving another two and a half years? Well, I don't understand the conditions a little. If pro-North Korean leftist forces of course have those forces that commit illegality, of course, I agree that they should be punished severely through investigation.Ma is quite sorry for the fact that he misjudged himself and declared an emergency decree, especially referring to an unknown group that calls it pro-North Korean leftists.

Then, that part won't cover up the mistakes related to the declaration of emergency martial law, but I think it's quite unfortunate that I'm talking about that part. You can't even do it for another two and a half years. I don't know how the impeachment trial will come to a conclusion in the future.In that regard, the president has said that he will respond very actively politically and judicially from his point of view, but he has hardly responded in reality. There are people who don't do
either. Rather, I am only conducting public opinion campaigns and appeals, so now if I am prosecuted following the Constitutional Court and the investigative agency, I hope that you will play a more faithful role in your time at the court during the trial process.

[Anchor]
Lee Jae-myung, chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea, said he was sorry when the arrest warrant for President Yoon was executed, and emphasized people's livelihoods, but didn't he hold an emergency gun? What did we talk about today?

[Seol Joo-wan]
That's what I'm saying. For example, I think evaluating the part where the arrest warrant is good or bad is something that the political community should refrain from. Anyway, the fact that an incumbent president is being escorted and investigated by an arrest warrant has become a country where foreign media in other countries are interested enough to broadcast the arrest warrant live today. Now, Korea is not just a small country in Asia, but one of the developed countries. It is becoming one of the G20 countries, but I think it is maintaining it to some extent now.

Therefore, the political circles misinterpreted these arrest warrants and interpreted them politically, which is advantageous for the Democratic Party of Korea as a subrogation, and against the power of the people. I don't think there's a need to talk about this, but if there's a little practical content about people's livelihoods, policy content will come out, and I think it's necessary to discuss in more detail how the opposition party plays a role in supporting people's livelihoods in the current acting system, especially in relation to Acting President Choi Sang-mok.

[Anchor]
Kwon Young-se, chairman of the emergency committee of the People's Power, is a trio of tragedies created by the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, the Seoul Western District Court, which issued a highly illegal arrest warrant, and the police who had connection with the Democratic Party. He strongly opposed the execution of illegal warrants, saying he would hold them accountable until the end.

[Changgeun Lee]
It is true that there is denunciation about the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit within the party. And I've pointed out enough about the capabilities of the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit earlier, but if the power of the people is a conservative party that values the rule of law, I think the law should be followed. That's why it's a part of the judiciary's recognition. And I think that the party should take the lead in revising the Corruption Investigations Unit Act and go forward like that. And regarding what you said earlier, I have to say something about CEO Lee Jae-myung, but I think CEO Lee Jae-myung is very contradictory. He said he was sorry and said he had no intention of delaying the vote on the independent counsel law. President Yoon Suk Yeol's arrest warrant has been executed and is being investigated. And in the future, the investigation may be transferred to the prosecution depending on whether or not an arrest warrant is requested.

In this situation, is there a need to create controversy by pushing the independent counsel law again? Then, we talk about people's livelihoods. However, I wonder if Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is qualified to speak about people's livelihoods, as well as the grain management law and the National Assembly's reinforcement and appraisal law, all oppose it. The Grain Management Act is concerned about financial collapse, and the National Assembly Testimony and Appraisal Act is a law that suppresses businessmen. However, this time, the education law based on free high school education was passed unilaterally. But as everyone knows, education finances continue to grow even though the school-age population decreases. Last year, there was already a surplus of education finances, and it's coming out a lot depending on all kinds of PCs and unnecessary things. 20.79% of domestic taxes go into education finances.

Against this backdrop, does the Democratic Party of Korea, which created 1,200 trillion won in state finances, deserve another free series? That's why I vetoed it. So, I can't help but ask whether Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party is a person who really cares about people's livelihoods or who only thinks about avoiding his judicial risks and going to the presidential election as soon as possible by enjoying the arrest of President Yoon. So I think the Democratic Party of Korea, which thinks of such people's livelihoods, should correct this inevitable way of pushing and not thinking about people's livelihoods only when it is really inevitable.

[Anchor]
I have dinner time from 5:50 now, and dinner time ends at 7 o'clock. There is no arrangement on whether or not to conduct a late-night investigation, but if it ends like this, we will move to the Seoul Detention Center, right?

[Seol Joo-wan]
That's right. Usually, night investigations and late-night investigations usually ask the suspect whether he agrees before mealtime. And I'll ask my lawyer to decide on this part. If you do, I don't know if you've gone through the procedure to check the investigation. If you didn't do that, you'll go to the Seoul Detention Center after eating and stay tonight, and if you say you'll start investigating tomorrow morning, you'll usually do the investigation from 10 o'clock. If so, the Seoul Detention Center will appear again as the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and the investigation will continue, and tomorrow will be the last investigation for the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit. So, it could be almost the last investigation to request a warrant, so I think we will try to finish the investigation that was urgently scheduled tomorrow by tomorrow.

[Anchor]
You are being detained in the suspect's room, and if you are arrested, you will go to the Seoul Detention Center. What is Seoul Detention Center?

[Seol Joo-wan]
To be exact, it is located in Uiwang-si. Usually, the Seoul Central District Court or the Southern District Court has a separate Southern Detention Center, so most cases under the jurisdiction of the Western District Court and the Central District Court are waiting at the Seoul Detention Center. Detention centers, unlike prisons, are pending cases. So, it's a place where the suspects or defendants are still inches away before the judgment is finalized. Even if they are on trial, there are places that have not been confirmed, and in the case of politicians and suspects such as the president of Yoon Suk Yeol, they usually live alone for about a week to 10 days.

[Anchor]
The Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit said it would prepare respect for the investigation process and the execution of the warrant, but it is said that the president is used in the process of investigating now. In fact, after being escorted this morning, he predicted that he would have tea time with Senior Airborne Officer Oh Dong-woon over tea, but he said he didn't do that. How did you see that?

[Changgeun Lee]
It doesn't really mean much. Even if you are not a high-ranking official or president, it is customary to drink tea with a high-ranking prosecutor if such people come for investigation, but in fact, today is not the case, is it? And it's when the arrest warrant was issued. However, the good thing is that the Airborne Division did not show respect for the president, but recognized the fact that the president moved in the president's security vehicle as he wanted. I'm fully respectful with that. In addition, even if you are detained in the investigation process and in a detention center for a while, it is natural to have all the respect as a president.

[Anchor]
That's all for today's talk.

Lee Chang-geun, chairman of the party's cooperation committee, and Seol Joo-wan, former deputy member of the Democratic Party's legal committee. Thank you.