Lawmakers from the Legal Committee view CCTV of warrant execution
“Strongly resisted while in underwear, speaking informally
Supported by 7 people 24/7, a king in the detention center”,
Kim Yong-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker, speaks after completing an on-site inspection at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi, to verify whether any privileges were granted during the detention of former President Yoon Suk-yeol and to examine CCTV footage. 2025.09.01, Lee Hun-gu, reporter ufo@donga.com,
Lawmakers from the National Assembly’s Judiciary Committee who reviewed the closed-circuit TV records from the Seoul Detention Center reported that former President Yoon Suk-yeol refused the execution of arrest warrants on two occasions while dressed only in underwear. ‘,
They also stated that there was no indication, as claimed by the defense team, that former President Yoon had been injured during the second execution attempt.
On the 1st, lawmakers from the Democratic Party and the Korea Innovation Party conducted an on-site inspection at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. These lawmakers reviewed CCTV footage of the execution of the 1st and 2nd arrest warrants against former President Yoon.
Kim Yong-min, a Democratic Party lawmaker, met with reporters at the Seoul Detention Center on the same day and stated, “It was confirmed that the arrest warrant execution failed both times. During the process, there was no violation of (former President Yoon’s) human rights, and no excessive force was used. The procedures were lawfully notified and carried out.”
Rep. Kim said, “During the first execution, former President Yoon resisted strongly by lying down in his underwear and refusing to comply, making statements like ‘Don’t touch me’ or ‘I want to see my lawyer’ while refusing the execution.”
He continued, “During the second execution, he was already sitting in his underwear reading what looked like a Bible and refused the execution. It’s true that he refused the execution in his underwear on both occasions.”
Rep. Kim added, “Former President Yoon briefly met with his lawyers at the office of the correctional division head, and even after the meeting, the lawyers refused to leave, obstructing the execution with ludicrous arguments and threatening the guards.”
He also stated, “There is controversy over privileges given to former President Yoon. He had multiple meetings with lawyers after working hours. The warden allowed this, and it is considered as a privilege issue.”
Regarding the claim that former President Yoon was injured during the second execution process, it was noted that this was not true. Rep. Kim explained, “There was only a degree of physical force used to pull out the chair he was sitting on with his legs crossed, and he was not forcibly dragged out.”
Former President Yoon Suk-yeol, after being examined for a warrant related to abuse of power and other charges at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul on July 9, leaves the court to return to the Seoul Detention Center, where he was awaiting bail.,
Previously, former President Yoon’s attorneys alleged that during the second execution process, correctional officials attempted to pull out the chair he was sitting on, causing him to fall and sustain significant injuries.
Rep. Kim noted, “Former President Yoon voluntarily came to the floor, announced that he was refusing the execution, and after the execution failed, he got up and walked away on his own.”
Democratic Party lawmaker Jang Kyung-tae who reviewed the CCTV footage said, “Former President Yoon completely disregarded the guards’ legitimate instructions and demands to come out clothed. He obstructed the process unreasonably and shamelessly. He was essentially treated like a king in the detention center, with 7 people assisting him 24/7.”
Lawmaker Jeon Hyun-hee remarked, “Former President Yoon’s claim that forcibly executing the arrest warrant was unprecedented and illegal is groundless. According to the Seoul Detention Center, refusing to comply with an arrest warrant execution and not responding is unprecedented.”