Xinhua News Agency, Seoul, January 15th Hot Questions and Answers | What does Yin Xiyue’s arrest mean?
Xinhua News Agency reporter Lu Aihua Ji Xinlong
South Korea's suspended President Yoon Seok-yue was arrested on the 15th and was subsequently investigated by the South Korean Senior Public Officials Criminal Investigation Office (Public Investigation Office).
What is the procedure after arrest?
Yin Xiyue was arrested at 10:33 local time (9:33 Beijing time). The South Korean Public Relations Office stated that it will apply for a detention order within 48 hours after ensuring that Yin Xiyue can make relevant statements to the maximum extent.
According to South Korean law, the Public Relations Office must decide within 48 hours whether to apply for a detention order. The detention period can be extended to up to 20 days, otherwise the person will be released.
What is the Public Investigation Department investigating?
The South Korean Public Relations Office said on the 15th that Yin Xiyue entered the investigation phase after arriving at the Public Relations Office.
The Public Investigation Office announced: "Starting at 11 a.m., the suspect investigation began in the Video Recording Investigation Room No. 338 of the Public Investigation Office."
The Public Investigation Office's investigation includes: Yin Xiyue's unconstitutional and illegal declaration of emergency martial law, mobilizing the police and military to illegally blockade the National Assembly, obstructing the exercise of the vote to lift martial law, and trying to illegally arrest government and opposition representatives, etc.
According to Korean media reports, after the Public Investigation Office completes its investigation, it will transfer Yin Xiyue to the Seoul Detention Center and consider recording and videotaping the entire process.
Since there is no precedent of a sitting president being held in a detention facility, matters such as security, security and courtesy levels are being discussed.
What does Yin Xiyue say?
Yin Xiyue said that the Public Investigation Department does not have the power to investigate civil unrest crimes, the investigation itself is illegal, and the right to refuse to state may be exercised during the investigation.
On the same day, before leaving the presidential palace to go to the Public Relations Office to be investigated, Yoon Seok-yue recorded a video address to the people, disapproving the Public Relations Office’s investigation. He claimed that the country's laws had collapsed, and in order to prevent disgraceful bloodshed, he decided to go to the Public Information Office for investigation, although it was an illegal investigation.
What is the reaction from the ruling and opposition parties?
South Korea's ruling National Power Party criticized the Public Investigation Office for "illegal execution of the arrest warrant."
Kwon Seung-dong, floor representative of the National Power Party, said after Yoon Seok-yue was arrested that "the national character has collapsed."
Shin Dong-wook, chief spokesperson of the National Power Party, criticized the Public Investigation Office for "having become a subordinate agency of the opposition party." The Public Investigation Office, which has lost its political neutrality, has lost its reason for existence. The Public Investigation Office for illegally executing arrest warrants will be held politically and legally accountable.
However, Park Chan-dae, the floor representative of South Korea's largest opposition party, the Democratic Party, said on the 15th that Yin Xiyue's arrest was the first step to restore constitutional order.
Park Chan-dae said at a plenary meeting of members of the party that day that Yoon Seok-yue, as the president who should protect the Constitution and laws, not only violated the Constitution and laws by declaring emergency martial law, but also used force to obstruct public power law enforcement. He was a major criminal who plunged South Korea into chaos.
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