기사 메일전송
Lee Jin-sook's arrest warrant review begins... "Refused summons six times" vs. "Detention of democracy"
  • Yonhap News
  • October 4, 2025 at 3:41 PM
기사수정
  • In dispute with police over attendance... decision to be made within 24 hours after court hearing concludes
  • If the arrest warrant is denied, the court will review it; if it is granted, the suspect will be released. A conclusion could be reached as early as tonight.


Former KCC Chairman Lee Jin-sook being escorted after arrestLee Jin-sook, former Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), who was arrested on charges including violations of the State Public Officials Act and the Public Official Election Act, is being escorted to the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul on the 2nd. Yonhap News. 

A review of the legality of the arrest of Lee Jin-sook, former Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), who was arrested by the police, began on the 4th.


The Seoul Southern District Court has been conducting a review of Lee's arrest since 3 p.m. on the same day. The hearing is being handled by the duty judge.


Arriving at the court by a police transport vehicle around 2:45 p.m., Lee stated, "What has been arrested and detained with me is the liberal democracy of the Republic of Korea. Is this the sovereign nation that President Lee Jae-myung spoke of? There was no sovereignty of the people in arresting and detaining me."


She added, "I believe that the judiciary, somewhere in the Republic of Korea, will prove that liberal democracy is still alive," before entering the courtroom.


Some lawmakers from the People Power Party and conservative groups were present to criticize the police and show their support for Lee.


Former KCC Chairman Lee Jin-sook, handcuffed, being escortedLee Jin-sook, former Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), who was arrested on charges including violations of the State Public Officials Act and the Public Official Election Act, speaks to reporters while being escorted to the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul on the 2nd. Yonhap News. 

A review of the legality of arrest is a system in which a court is requested to review a release when an arrest by investigative authorities is deemed unlawful. The court reviews whether the arrest is lawful and whether continued detention is necessary, and if it is unlawful or unjustifiable, the person is released.


Lee, who is under police investigation for alleged violations of the State Public Officials Act and the Public Official Election Act, was arrested by police near her home around 4 p.m. on the 2nd. The reason given was her failure to comply with six summons requests without just cause and concerns that she would not comply with future summons requests.


Lee claimed that the police had agreed on September 27th as the summons date, but repeatedly sent meaningless summons notices demanding her appearance before that date.


Furthermore, she is arguing that her arrest was unlawful, despite submitting a statement explaining her inability to attend the investigation on the 27th due to the National Assembly's filibuster (unlimited debate) schedule.


Former KCC Chairman Lee Jin-sook after arrestLee Jin-sook, former Chairperson of the Korea Communications Commission (KCC), who was arrested on charges including violations of the State Public Officials Act and the Public Official Election Act, speaks to reporters while being escorted to the Yeongdeungpo Police Station in Seoul on the 2nd. Yonhap News. 

If Lee's request is denied, her arrest status will be maintained for approximately 20 more hours.


The time elapsed from when the investigative documents and evidence are submitted to the court for the hearing until the return of the materials after the hearing concludes is excluded from the calculation of the arrest deadline.


Following this, the police are likely to strongly consider applying for an arrest warrant based on the investigation results.


Conversely, if Lee's request is granted, she will be released.


In such a case, the police may face criticism for an unreasonable arrest.

A controversy could also spread, alleging that Lee, who has been at odds with the current administration, was unjustly suppressed.


A decision regarding the review must be made within 24 hours of the conclusion of the hearing.


Yonhap News


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