On the 24th, the People Power Party condemned the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials' (CIO) allegations of 'warrant shopping,' claiming that the arrest and detention of President Yoon Suk-yeol were illegal, based on an unlawful warrant. This seems to be a focus on a 'last-minute public opinion battle' as the final argument for the impeachment trial of President Yoon approaches.

Members of the National Assembly's Legislative and Judiciary Committee belonging to the ruling party, including Yoo Sang-beom, Joo Jin-woo, Jang Dong-hyuk, Song Seok-jun, and Kwak Kyu-taek, held a press conference in the National Assembly briefing room that morning, stating, 'We demand the immediate cancellation of the arrest of President Yoon and his release, and a thorough investigation into this matter.'

On the same day, the National Assembly's Legislative and Judiciary Committee members claimed that the CIO concealed the fact that it had requested an arrest warrant against President Yoon from the Seoul Central District Court, which was rejected, saying, 'The CIO and relevant officials should clarify the circumstances before the public, apologize, and immediately resign.'

Members of the People Power Party, including Secretary Yoon Sang-bum of the National Assembly's Legislative and Judiciary Committee, are holding a press conference on the position regarding the illegal investigation of President Yoon Suk-yeol by the CIO at the National Assembly press room in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of Oct. 24. /Courtesy of News1

'They said that the reason the CIO sought a warrant from the Seoul Western District Court, avoiding the jurisdiction specified in the CIO Act, has become clear, stating, 'It was realized that it was impossible to receive a warrant from the Central District Court, and they exploited the trends of judges at the Western District Court controlled by the Law Research Group.'

They criticized, 'Requesting an unlawful warrant and arresting the president based on that unlawful warrant, as well as illegally detaining the president, constitute very serious felonies, including forgery of public documents, obstruction of official duties by deceit, as well as abuse of authority in arrests and detentions.'

They also emphasized, 'This is an unlawful arrest and detention of President Yoon, and this is indeed a rebellion crime aimed at disrupting the constitution.'

Joo Jin-woo, chair of the People Power Party's legal advisory committee, met with reporters after the press conference and regarding the CIO's explanation that 'there has been no direct request for a communication warrant against President Yoon,' he said, 'I think it's just a play on words,' adding, 'They specified President Yoon as a suspect and included him in the criminal facts. Naturally, it's a warrant against President Yoon.'

Previously, the CIO explained that while it had requested a warrant from the Central District Court on the 21st, it was solely for a search of former Minister Kim and major military officers, not including the president, the presidential office, or the residence. However, they acknowledged that President Yoon's name was included in the accompanying communication warrant request.

Representative Joo pointed out, 'I am asking if the CIO handed over all records to the prosecution without a single sheet missing, and there has been no answer on that part.' He stated that the CIO chief Oh Dong-woon should appear before the National Assembly Special Committee and testify.

Representative Joo remarked, 'If some records were not handed over, the investigation documents would constitute public documents. This corresponds to concealment of evidence,' adding that 'deceiving judges of the court constitutes obstruction of official duties by deceit, and falsely responding to inquiries from the National Assembly would establish forgery of public documents.'

Na Kyung-won, a member of the People Power Party, is visiting to protest against the CIO, condemning the alleged concealment of warrant dismissals in front of the Civil Complaints Office at the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gwacheon City on the afternoon of Oct. 24. /Courtesy of News1

Representatives Na Kyung-won, Yoon Sang-hyun, and others from the People Power Party also visited the CIO office in Gwacheon City to protest in person that afternoon.

Rep. Na criticized, 'The CIO is an organization that should never have been born,' stating, 'As expected, it has led the Democratic Party's incitement of rebellion.'

'They must answer why they lied to the National Assembly all this time,' adding, 'They need to clarify the reasons for lying about not having requested a warrant from the Seoul Central District Court against President Yoon.'

'The CIO chief Oh Dong-woon, who is responsible for all of this, must immediately resign,' and they urged the National Assembly to conduct a national investigation into the CIO and dismantle it.

Representative Yoon Sang-hyun stated, 'The essence of the impeachment and arrest of President Yoon is that the rule of law in the Republic of Korea is collapsing. At the center of that collapse is the CIO and Chief Oh,' expressing that 'this must be condemned in the name of the people, and the abolition of the CIO is the answer.'

Representative Park Dae-chul noted, 'The CIO chose a warrant 'restaurant' that suits its taste. The CIO that selected this warrant has deceived the National Assembly and the public twice.'

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