Former Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairperson Lee Jin-sook holds hands with Rep. Bae Hyun-jin of the People Power Party as she appears at the Seoul Southern District Court on the afternoon of the 4th to attend an arrest review. Yonhap News. 

An arrest review was held on the 4th for former Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairperson Lee Jin-sook, who was arrested by the police. The court will decide within 24 hours whether to continue Lee's detention or release her.

The Seoul Southern District Court began the arrest review for Lee at 3 p.m. The judge presiding over the hearing was Chief Judge Kim Dong-hyun, who was on duty that day.

During the interrogation, which lasted for about an hour, the prosecution, on behalf of the police, stated their opinion. It is reported that they argued that Lee's arrest was a legitimate execution of an arrest warrant because she had failed to comply with six summonses, and the filibuster she cited as a reason for her absence could have been attended by a representative.

Conversely, Lee reportedly argued that the police issued meaningless summonses and built a case for arrest, despite having agreed on a date for her appearance. She also emphasized that the charges of violating the Public Official Election Act and the State Public Officials Act, as claimed by the police, were not substantiated.

The interrogation for an arrest review typically involves the petitioner, their lawyer, and the prosecutor, similar to other interrogation procedures.

After the hearing, lawyer Lim Mu-young, Lee's legal representative, met with reporters and stated that Lee felt shame, being labeled a socially harmful person after watching news of her "six absences" on the detention center's TV. He also explained, "The court asked Lee if she had the intention to appear, and she answered, 'Of course I do.'"

As Lee left the courtroom around 4:37 p.m., she briefly said, "I explained everything to the judge," and "Let's see the results." She then departed in a police escort vehicle for the detention center at Yeongdeungpo Police Station.

Former Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairperson Lee Jin-sook holds hands with Rep. Bae Hyun-jin of the People Power Party as she appears at the Seoul Southern District Court on the afternoon of the 4th to attend an arrest review. Yonhap News.

An arrest review is a system in which a person who believes their arrest by investigative authorities was wrongful requests the court to review their release.

If Lee's petition is dismissed, her detention will be extended by approximately 20 more hours, accounting for the period the investigation records were transferred to and returned from the court. In this scenario, the police are likely to consider applying for an arrest warrant after a third round of investigation.

According to the Code of Criminal Procedure, the period from the date of submission of investigation documents to the court until their return is excluded from the period for applying for an arrest warrant for a suspect who has been arrested.

Conversely, if Lee's petition is accepted and a decision for granting the request is made, she will be released. The police would likely face criticism for an unwarranted arrest.

Chief Judge Kim Dong-hyun (50), who presided over the hearing, is a graduate of the Judicial Research and Training Institute's 30th class and holds a degree in Law from Seoul National University. He is a namesake with Chief Judge Kim Dong-hyun (52), who acquitted former President Lee Jae-myung of charges of instructing perjury, and they are from the same graduating class of the Judicial Research and Training Institute.

Former Korea Communications Commission (KCC) Chairperson Lee Jin-sook speaks as she enters the Seoul Southern District Court on the afternoon of the 4th to attend an arrest review. Yonhap News. 

Yonhap News