Shin Dong-wook, "Is the president arrested for fear of destroying evidence? Will the people understand?"

[YTN radio news fighting]

□ Broadcasting: FM 94.5 (07:15-09:00)
□ Broadcast date and time: January 20, 2025 (Mon)
□ Host: Youngsoo Kim Anchor
□ Cast: Shin Dong-wook, member of the People's Power,

* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information.

[Please clarify that this is the interview content of YTN Radio <News Fighting>]]

◆ Youngsoo Kim Anchor (hereinafter referred to as Youngsoo Kim): We will continue with the second part. It's an issue interview. You're the chief spokesman for People's Power, right? You are in the studio of Representative Shin Dong-wook. Please come in.

◇ Member for the People's Power (hereinafter referred to as Shin Dong-wook): Nice to meet you. It's your first broadcast today?

◆ Youngsoo Kim: Yes, we do. This is my first interview.

◇ Shin Dong-wook: Yes, I'll see you often.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: Yes, I'll see you often. An arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol was issued early yesterday morning. It's been 47 days since the emergency decree was declared, the court. It was determined that there was a risk of destroying evidence. How do you see the court's judgment?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: Before I tell you, I'd like to say that I feel a sense of responsibility as a politician for some violent incident in Western support after the issuance of the arrest warrant, and as you all know, isn't the court the final body that determines the controversy in that country? That's why I think it would have been great if it was a very clean judgment and everyone could agree without disagreement after the decision was made. In particular, it was reported in many newspapers today because it was the process of deciding whether to arrest the first president in our constitutional history, but the reason for the arrest was only 15 characters. While saying that there is a fear of destroying evidence, there is a regret that the public will understand that there is a fear of destroying evidence without explaining any reason while issuing an arrest warrant to arrest the former president. So, from the power of our people, we have said that it is right to investigate without detention and the principle of presumption of innocence. Since he is the incumbent president, all those involved are already arrested, and there have already been parts that he has talked about on TV several times, I have some questions about the destruction of evidence.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: There seems to be a lot of people who say that the power of the four people is unfortunate for the court's judgment. However, the Democratic Party claims that it is the cornerstone of establishing the collapsed constitutional order. How do you see it?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: Well, I think it's a question of how to interpret the constitutional order. Although this situation began with the president's false declaration of martial law, there are strong doubts that the Democratic Party of Korea has set up a constitutional order just because it arrested the president. So, as this is the first time we have experienced this part in constitutional history, I hope that all political circles will look back on us with a more humble attitude and look back more soberly on whether the president is a reason to be arrested now.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: Kwon Young-se, chairman of the emergency committee, said that he had destroyed the principles of the law, and asked Lee Jae-myung if he had rejected it, saying it was a guarantee of the right to defend himself.

◇ Shin Dong-wook: That's actually the most controversial part in the future. The National Assembly issued an arrest warrant, so the court cannot even arrest Lee Jae-myung, who allowed him to be arrested by the National Assembly, because he has various roles as the leader of the opposition party. I've already made this judgment. In addition to that, in the case of former representative Cho Kuk, who was arrested not long ago, he was sentenced to two years in prison in both the first and second trials, but wasn't he arrested now after establishing a political party, winning 12 people and serving as a member of the National Assembly? Of course, the president's actions have a huge impact on the country, so there are certainly aspects that require more accurate and prompt judgment. However, it is quite regrettable in terms of equity, and it is true that there is a public consensus that we think court decisions are always sacrosanct in a court's democratic system, but I don't know why, at least nevertheless, the opaque warrant court, which many of the entire people oppose, asks for a warrant in the Western Support Center, arrests it, and issues an arrest warrant in the Western Support Center to the end. In this regard, is this court really the court we think is the one that we can contaminate? On the other hand, the court could also be contaminated. I think it's a part to look back on that there are a lot of people who believe that there are some triangles between the Democratic Party of Korea, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit and the court.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: Yes, if the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit had requested a warrant from the Central District Court, do you think it would have been dismissed?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: Well, the court will decide whether or not, but what the political community sees has been rejected or accepted, but it is not this issue that the people are protesting so much and leaving this room can lead to great national unhappiness no matter what decision is made. That's why at least law enforcement agencies and courts should do something that will be trusted by the people. That's what I'm thinking.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: President Yoon Suk Yeol had filed a request with the Seoul Central District Court regarding the legality of the arrest warrant. It was rejected as expected. Do you think you will request the Central District Court to issue an arrest warrant again this time?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: I haven't actually asked that part of the defense team, but I'm telling you again that I don't think there's any objection to the judgment of the Seoul Central District Court and the judgment of the Western District Court. I'm saying this in terms of not creating such a controversy.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: I see. President Yoon announced his position in prison. We will do our best to clarify the purpose and justification of the declaration of emergency martial law. Even if it takes time, I said I would not give up and correct the wrong things. How will you respond?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: I don't know. Now, this key controversy is whether there is legitimacy in the process that led to the president's declaration of emergency martial law, and the second is whether it is a civil war or not, right? If I join the National Assembly in my 20s and continue to work, I think the president will probably explain the circumstances that led to this emergency martial law in the future. The judicial risk that Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea has now is something that the Korean people are well aware of. Second, how the Democratic Party has been manipulating the legislature to eliminate this judicial risk or protect representative Lee Jae-myung, I think the Democratic Party has been too much as a member of the National Assembly. I'm sure you all know that I impeached discrimination. He's been impeached 19 times now. There has never been an opposition party in our constitutional history that has impeached so many times. All bills have been unilaterally passed just because they are in the majority party. And at the end of last year, they decidedly did what they wanted with the budget. I cut the government budget at will and let it pass. And it's January, and they're asking us to set up another extra budget. So, the National Assembly should talk and compromise to do politics for the people, whether it is a minority or majority, and all of this is politics for one representative, Lee Jae-myung. Second, the Democratic Party almost openly talked about impeaching the president as soon as the 22nd National Assembly Yoon Suk Yeol government was born. What does this mean? I will impeach a new government because the National Assembly has a majority, and as a result, there is a declaration of martial law by President Yoon Suk Yeol in the process, but as a result, it was impeached. It means there's a lot to say about this.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: You were saying that the National Assembly impeachment motion was passed. Let me ask you something about the violence in the Western District Court at dawn yesterday. First of all, regardless of the background of the reason for the violence, isn't the violence a big fault? How is the position of the people's power coming out?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: When I came across the situation early yesterday, I was the first to make a statement saying that violence is not possible because I'm the party's spokesman. And yesterday morning at 10 a.m., the emergency committee meeting was held, and Kwon Young-se, chairman of the committee, said, "Violence is absolutely impossible," and even our floor leader Kwon Sung-dong said, "When violence leads to violence and that violence causes social chaos, a dictator like Hitler will eventually be born." These are things that we've proven historically. I think the police should thoroughly reveal how this violence was caused and who led the way intensively. But no violence. However, since the day before yesterday, tens of thousands of supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol have gathered to protest Mapo-daero, where western support is located, and I think our political community should really reflect on it. It is the responsibility of the National Assembly to create this kind of politics that goes to the judiciary and it goes to the square without being resolved by the National Assembly. It's the responsibility of politics. It is also the responsibility of the ruling and opposition parties. It became a hot topic recently, but when singer Na Hoon-ah was performing, the right side made a mistake. This was controversial again by using expressions such as "Did you do well" while looking at your left arm, but I think it's the most appropriate expression. I have to reflect on everything.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: Yes, the supporters who broke into the Western District Court yesterday were supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol, right?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: So far, most of the supporters of Yoon Suk Yeol's president are supporters, and the people who were in the lead were very enthusiastic YouTubers anyway. This morning's report, so I think I need to look at that.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: I see. That means we need to investigate more. However, Rep. Kim Sang-wook, a member of the People's Power, said, "Some of the party instigates the fierce supporters and leads to violent plastic surgery." Some in the party have instigated a fierce base of supporters. What do you think?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: Well, I don't know if the lawmakers who went to the presidential residence are using this expression about going to the site with their supporters, but it's an expression that I completely disagree with. Our lawmakers have never asked us to use violence, nor have we taken the lead in shouting violent slogans, but I'm not sure. It's hard to understand why our party member is saying this.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: Yes. Floor leader Kwon Sung-dong also strongly criticized the violence, but said it is necessary to take a look at the police's response. What do you think about the police response?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: Well, I said it earlier, but it's a little hard for me to say it carelessly. So the police will arrest and investigate all those involved for now. I understand that the police have made this position, but of course, the police will have to respond strictly now. But you have to be sure to cover it up. Of course, the act of breaking down a court by storming it into a court can never happen in a democratic society. However, I also think that this is the way to prevent a second or third situation in the future by revealing the responsibility for this part through some fair procedure.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: I issued a statement yesterday because Representative Shin Dong-wook is now a senior spokesman, and after a brief look at the contents of the statement. I hope the Democratic Party will give up its impure intention to divide the public opinion by politically abusing it. He said that the expression "riot" or "riot" is a provocative and political term, and that it should not cause extreme conflict. In the meantime, he said that the past assault by the KCTU police by taking the coordinates of judges and prosecutors by the strong supporters should not be re-enacted in the future.

◇ Shin Dong-wook: I think the original issue that has been stirring up the square and confusing politics is the Democratic Party. As you know, the mad cow disease issue, which later turned out to be completely unfounded, and I hope that the Democratic Party of Korea will take this opportunity to look back on itself on its attitude toward violent protests by the KCTU. Second, the Democratic Party of Korea defined it as a civil war immediately after the martial law incident, and defined it as a party that empowers our people. I'm talking about things that are completely unfounded. And it is now expressing yesterday's situation as the second civil war. And the power of the people is behind this situation. He is now expressing that. It's not true at all, and as I said earlier, in this situation where the political community should be reflecting on it now, which way can the Democrats push this responsibility to gain? They're falling into the mud together. Let's go into the reservoir together. It is right for the Democratic Party of Korea to reflect on itself and make efforts not to send the problems that we have to solve in the National Assembly to the square. Is there anything that the Democratic Party can gain politically by attacking the power of our people by using this situation as an excuse? I have such a pity.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: Yes, I'll ask Senator Gun-young the same question in a moment. President Yoon announced his entrance to prison. Among the contents, it was regrettable that the legitimate purpose of declaring martial law could not be conveyed by expressing one's intention in a peaceful way. How did you read the president's statement?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: I don't know. Of course, some analysts say that the president's continued publication is aimed at gathering supporters. However, looking at the status quo, the president's message is not rallying his supporters, but the handling of this case, which is hard to understand for the Democratic Party, the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, the courts and the Constitutional Court, is rallying our supporters. What would the president gain from the president, of course, triggering violence? Ultimately, would this kind of violence help the president? There are many prospects that it will be very unfavorable to the trial process or the constitutional trial process in the future. That's why we feel very sorry for that. If this happens and we have any political gain, we say it can, but if this happens, the most embarrassing thing will be the president and our party. That's why the Democratic Party's argument, such as the president adjusting it from behind, the people's power pressuring such violence from behind, or inducing it, is not convincing at all. We're the victims.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: I see. I think we need to go into the last question. Some recent polls, like last week's Gallup survey, and so did the MBS survey. It was announced that the public's approval rating exceeded that of the Democratic Party. Where do you think the biggest reason is that the approval ratings of the two major parties of the two parties have returned to the structure before the martial law crisis?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: I can't tell you what we did. I hope that the Democratic Party will take a close look at this figure. Rather than saying we did a good job, I think the people are judging the Democratic Party's groundless incitement of civil war, the illegal investigation without investigation rights by the Senior Civil Servant Corruption Investigations Unit, the Constitutional Court's too hurried to hear strange cases, and the unconvincing decisions as I said to the court.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: I have a little bit of time left. The Independent Counsel Act on Insurrection, which passed the National Assembly led by the opposition party. I thought we'd reach an agreement, but we couldn't reach an agreement. Are you going to ask for the right to request reconsideration?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: I think so. Let me explain a little bit. The Democratic Party of Korea has now removed the foreign exchange charges and the incitement of civil war from its own special investigation proposal. That's why they keep saying that they've given up everything they're going to give up, but from our perspective, they thought they'd take it out if they negotiated in the first place, and they put it in. This is because the Democratic Party insisted until the end on the part where the investigation of the case can be conducted indefinitely, perhaps because it is the most toxic clause.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: Do you think foreign exchange crimes are actually included in the part that we can investigate cognitive cases?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: Of course, foreign exchange crimes are included in the process. Also, the parts about the incitement of the civil war that they claimed to have excluded earlier are directed at our party and our people. Why didn't we say we would take that out of the negotiation process because we can do such things if we put up the clues? We have doubts about this, and the Democratic Party's independent counsel law is virtually the president's arrest, so it is no longer meaningful to be an independent counsel.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: Yes, if acting Choi exercises his right to request reconsideration and makes a re-decision, how many votes do you think will be left within the party?

◇ Shin Dong-wook: I don't think it's going to be big. There is a possibility that it will be smaller than last time.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: It is likely to decrease. A poll mentioned briefly. This is the result of a survey of 1,001 voters nationwide by Gallup Korea from the 14th to the 16th. It was a telephone interview method. The approval rating of the People's Power Party was 39 percent and that of the Democratic Party was 36 percent. For more information, please visit the website of the Central Election Public Opinion Review Committee. So far, I've talked with Representative Shin Dong-wook of the People's Power. Thank you very much. Thank you.

◇ Shin Dong-wook: Thank you. I'll see you again.

◆ Youngsoo Kim: Yes, I'll see you again.