President Yoon Suk-yeol's camp has announced that they may appeal to the Supreme Court after the court dismissed their challenge to an arrest and search warrant.
On Friday, Yoon's lawyer, Yoon Gap-geun, said, "The Seoul Western District Court dismissed the challenge without informing the applicant of the reasons." He added, "Once we understand the reasons for the dismissal, we will consider appealing to the Supreme Court."
"The purpose of the challenge was to prevent the arrest and search, and the dismissal of the challenge does not mean that the warrant is valid," he explained further.
Earlier this week, ahead of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials' attempt to execute the warrant, Yoon's lawyer, Yoon Gap-geun, filed a challenge with the court, arguing that there were problems with the warrant content.
In the search warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials had specified that 'Articles 110 and 111 of the Criminal Procedure Act do not apply to this warrant,' arguing that this violated Article 12 of the Constitution, which states that 'no arrest, detention, search, or seizure shall be made without due process of law.'
However, Judge Ma Seong-young of the Seoul Western District Court's Criminal Division 7 dismissed the challenge, stating, "It cannot be seen as an unconstitutional act infringing on legislative power," and "It cannot be deemed illegal for the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials to request the arrest and search warrants from the Seoul Western District Court, which has jurisdiction over the location of the Presidential Office and residence."
Hong Min-sung, Hankyung.com reporter mshong@hankyung.com
