On Wednesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol said, “Although the investigation is illegal, I have decided to comply with the summons from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) to prevent unfortunate bloodshed.”
Before departing for the Government Complex in Gwacheon, where the CIO is headquartered, Yoon addressed the nation in a public speech. He said, “Today, I witnessed them breach a secure area using firefighting equipment.”
Yoon expressed dismay, saying, “Regrettably, the rule of law has completely broken down in this country. We’re seeing warrants issued by agencies with no investigative authority and courts with no power to review warrants issuing arrest and search orders. It’s truly appalling to witness this cascade of illegalities, where law enforcement is using fraudulent documents to deceive the public and forcibly advancing procedures based on invalid warrants.”
He continued, “Even if I face adversity, I sincerely hope our citizens will never have to endure such unjust criminal proceedings again.”
Regarding executing the arrest warrant, Yoon clarified, “My compliance with the CIO’s investigation does not imply that I recognize its legitimacy. As president tasked with protecting the Constitution and legal framework of the Republic of Korea, my response to this illegal and invalid process does not acknowledge its validity. It is simply an effort to prevent an unfortunate and violent confrontation.”