Choo Kyung-ho, the former floor leader of the People Power Party, who is accused of obstructing a parliamentary resolution to lift martial law, appeared for the first time as a suspect at the office of the special investigation team on rebellion at the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the morning of October 30. He answered questions from reporters.
Choo, who was the floor leader of the People Power Party at the time of the December 3 martial law declaration, and is accused of obstructing the parliamentary resolution to lift martial law, will undergo a pre-arrest interrogation (warrant review) on the 2nd. The results of the warrant review are expected to be announced as soon as that night or by the early hours of the 3rd at the latest. With the first anniversary of the martial law declaration approaching, Choo’s charges could also raise suspicions of involvement and complicity by the People Power Party, which will be judged at the court’s pre-arrest stage. During the vote on the resolution to lift martial law, only 18 People Power Party members participated. Lee Jeong-chul, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on October 28 that if Choo were to be arrested, the People Power Party would earn the label of a ‘rebellious party,’ and the public call for its dissolution would grow stronger, indicating inevitable political repercussions based on Choo’s arrest status.
The pre-arrest interrogation for Choo is scheduled for 3 PM that day, presided over by Judge Lee Jeong-jae of the Seoul Central District Court. The special investigation team had previously requested Choo’s arrest warrant on charges of engaging in significant duties related to rebellion on the 3rd of last month. This is the first instance of the special investigation team requesting an arrest warrant for an incumbent member of the National Assembly concerning martial law declaration. On the 27th of last month, the National Assembly passed the motion to consent to Choo’s arrest with 172 out of 180 members voting in favor. Incumbent members of the National Assembly have immunity from arrest during sessions, and therefore, cannot be arrested or detained without the National Assembly’s consent.
Choo, who was the People Power Party’s floor leader at the time of the martial law declaration, is accused of deliberately obstructing the parliamentary vote by changing the venue for the party’s general assembly multiple times. Specifically, on December 4 of last year, at 12:01 AM, the National Assembly Operations Support issued a notice under the name of Speaker Woo Won-shik requesting all National Assembly members to gather at the main assembly hall. However, at 12:03 AM, Choo sent a message to People Power Party members requesting them to gather at the party headquarters in Yeouido. The special investigation team believes that, amidst the imminent opening of the National Assembly’s main session, Choo’s conflicting message with the National Assembly speaker’s notice caused confusion amongst the members and prompted members who had already arrived at the main assembly hall to leave for another location.
Furthermore, the special investigation team identified that Choo rejected a request from former People Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon to come to the main hall and, after the martial law declaration, was informed by former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs Hong Cheol-ho that cabinet members and presidential aides opposed the martial law declaration, yet Choo did not convey this crucial information that could have influenced the exercise of voting rights to the members.
On the other hand, Choo’s side completely denies the related charges, claiming that there was no intent to block the lifting of martial law. Regarding the notice for the party’s general assembly, they argue it was to temporarily gather members who couldn’t enter the National Assembly due to police blocking its access, in order to consolidate their opinions.
Regardless of the outcome of Choo’s pre-arrest interrogation, it is expected to cause significant repercussions in both the special investigation team and the political arena. If the arrest warrant is granted, the Democratic Party is likely to immediately publicize calls for the dissolution of the People Power Party as an unconstitutional party. For the special investigation team, which is nearing the end of its investigation on the 14th, arresting Choo might serve as a successful conclusion to their 150-day investigation. Conversely, if the arrest warrant is dismissed, the special investigation team may face criticism for having pursued the warrant excessively. Since beginning its investigation in June, the special investigation team has successfully arrested and indicted former President Yoon Suk-yeol, former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min, and former National Intelligence Service Director Cho Tae-yong, but failed to arrest former Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, and the arrest warrant for former Justice Minister Park Sung-jae was twice denied.