Lawyer Kwon O-yong, chairman of the Liberty and Innovation Party's Incheon chapter, holds an emergency press conference in front of the party headquarters on the 20th, strongly asserting that the search and seizure scope detailed in the warrant was greatly exceeded by an illegal forced investigation. / Reporter Heo Gyeom 

The new party, Liberty and Innovation, is defining the police's forced investigation, which greatly exceeded the scope of the warrant, as illegal and is strongly protesting.

Lawyer Kwon O-yong, chairman of the Liberty and Innovation Party's Incheon chapter, held an emergency press conference in front of the party headquarters on the 20th and argued, "The court's warrant lists former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn and the Anti-Election Corruption Prevention Group (Buchongdae)." He added, "When former Prime Minister Hwang ran for president, Buchongdae had already moved elsewhere and had no relation to him, yet the police are illegally searching and seizing the party headquarters."

Around 11 AM that day, police arrived at the central headquarters of 'Liberty and Innovation' and attempted to enter, but party officials blocked their entry until a lawyer was present, leading to a standoff. The search and seizure began around 12:30 PM after the legal team joined.

According to lawyer Park Ju-hyun, the police confiscated materials related to Buchongdae and two computers. The legal team strongly protested, arguing that a new warrant was required to search a political party.

The police cited a violation of Article 89, Paragraph 2 of the Public Official Election Act in the warrant, believing that the activities of the civic group previously led by leader Hwang Kyo-ahn constituted election support.

Police are strictly controlling access for reporters. Party officials strongly protested, arguing that public power should not block entry to a political party. / Reporter Heo Gyeom 

Police Perspective: "Buchongdae's Activities Were Election Support"

The police raised issues regarding the activities of the Anti-Election Corruption Prevention Group (Buchongdae), a civic organization led by leader Hwang. They determined that Buchongdae's rallies condemning election fraud and distribution of materials favored a specific political force, thus constituting actual election support activities for leader Hwang.

Consequently, the police argue that these activities violated the 'Prohibition of Establishment and Activity of Quasi-Institutions' provisions under the Public Official Election Act.

Legal Team's Rebuttal: "Violation of Public Official Election Act is a Forced Interpretation"

However, leader Hwang's side refutes that the police's perspective cannot be established. Lawyer Park Ju-hyun argued, "Leader Hwang resigned his chairmanship of Buchongdae before running for president and has no involvement in the group's subsequent activities." He added, "To frame political civic activism as election campaigning is absurd."

Furthermore, the legal team questioned the political motives of the investigation, stating, "Article 89 of the Public Official Election Act regulates direct actions for the purpose of election campaigning, not general civic activities."

The Liberty and Innovation side declared the search and seizure by the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Investigation Division illegal and reported it to the police. In response, officers from the Yongsan Police Station who were dispatched are inquiring about the circumstances of the incident from party officials in front of the headquarters. / Reporter Heo Gyeom 

Leader Hwang Kyo-ahn Directly Protests

Leader Hwang Kyo-ahn strongly protested the police's actions, labeling them as "political persecution." In a social media post that morning, he stated, "They are pressuring a political party with a wicked political investigation," and declared, "I will risk my life for justice." He also raised doubts about the police investigation's intent, calling it "a reckless attempt to cover up investigations into election fraud."

In a formal statement, Leader Hwang further lamented, "The police claim that all the evidence of election fraud I posted on my Facebook and YouTube during the June 3rd presidential election are my criminal acts." He questioned, "Does this make any sense? With this evidence, they should be searching and seizing the National Election Commission, so why are they searching and seizing us instead? Why did they raid the Liberty and Innovation party headquarters?"

He then added, "Liberty and Innovation was officially announced by the National Election Commission just two days ago. What are they intending to search and seize?" He reiterated his protest, stating, "The target of the search and seizure is fundamentally wrong, and it is clear 'political persecution'."

Leader Hwang vowed to take legal action against all police officers who illegally entered the party headquarters for the search and seizure. He issued a warning, stating, "At a time when the United States is extensively investigating election fraud, and just a few days before the Korea-U.S. summit on August 25th, conducting such a search and seizure is essentially Lee Jae-myung shooting himself in the foot."

Meanwhile, critical public opinion is spreading on social media, with comments such as "On what grounds are you conducting this search and seizure? To prevent election fraud?" and "The police are no longer Korean police."

The police plan to analyze the data obtained through the search and seizure and proceed with further investigations. Conversely, Liberty and Innovation has labeled the action as a reckless investigation that undermines party democracy and has foreshadowed strong countermeasures, including filing complaints against the police.

This matter is expected to escalate into legal disputes, with the boundaries between civic group activities and election campaigning, as well as the scope of application of the Public Official Election Act, emerging as key issues.

Lawyer Kwon O-yong (second from right) strongly protests as a police officer, presumed to be the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Public Investigation Division, demands his departure, stating, "It is illegal for public power to forcibly control the entry of a party member." On this day, the police removed both lawyer Kwon, who serves as the chairman of Liberty and Innovation's Incheon chapter, and the reporters. / Reporter Heo Gyeom

[Statement from Leader Hwang Kyo-ahn] This is the "List of Criminal Facts" in the search and seizure warrant! It's astounding! 

The photos below are the "List of Criminal Facts" from the search and seizure warrant.

During the June 3rd presidential election, all the evidence of election fraud I posted on my Facebook and YouTube are listed as my criminal acts.

Does this make any sense?

If so, with this evidence, they should be searching and seizing the National Election Commission, so why are they searching and seizing us instead?

Furthermore, why did they raid the Liberty and Innovation party headquarters?

Liberty and Innovation was officially announced by the National Election Commission just two days ago.

So, what are they intending to search and seize?

The target of the search and seizure is fundamentally wrong.

This is a clear case of 'political persecution'.

If they are going to investigate like this, then they should conduct the investigation into President Yoon Suk-yeol at Hannam-dong, where the presidential residence is currently located.

Isn't that the presidential residence? Why are they going to the Seoul Detention Center to conduct it?

Are they out of their minds?

Both the person who requested this warrant and the person who issued it seem to be not in their right minds.

I will take legal action against all police officers who illegally entered the party headquarters for the search and seizure.

At a time when the United States is extensively investigating election fraud, and just a few days before the Korea-U.S. summit on August 25th, conducting such a search and seizure is essentially Lee Jae-myung shooting himself in the foot.

The warrant detailing the criminal acts of Leader Hwang Kyo-ahn, as claimed by the police. Most of these are matters that became issues as evidence of election fraud.