Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty and Innovation Party, acknowledges the public immediately after his arrest warrant was dismissed. / Captured from Hwang Kyo-ahn TV.

Updated: 10:57 AM, 14th

Hwang Kyo-ahn, the leader of the new party Liberty and Innovation (former Prime Minister), emphasized upon his release after his arrest warrant was dismissed, "Justice has won. Liberal democracy has won. We have now opened the path for the Republic of Korea to triumph over the leftist regime that is destroying the nation."

Around 4 AM on the 14th, as he walked out of the main gate of the Seoul Detention Center, former Prime Minister Hwang stated to his waiting supporters, "There are many spies and communists here and there, but we will surely win," echoing these sentiments.

He declared, "This is just the beginning," and added, "It is merely the start of protecting a free Republic of Korea. I am immensely grateful to so many people who came out this early in the morning, just past 4 AM, to greet me. I will not forget this. I will surely run forward with you all for the sake of Korea's tomorrow. Thank you," he expressed in gratitude for the support.

Earlier, Judge Park Jeong-ho, who presided over the hearing for former Prime Minister Hwang's arrest warrant at the Seoul Central District Court, dismissed the warrant around 3:45 AM on the 13th, stating, "The necessity for detention cannot be recognized."

Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, facing charges of inciting rebellion, makes a statement as he is taken to the special prosecutor's office for rebellion at the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 12th. Yonhap News Agency.

Previous Article: 4:03 AM, 14th

[Breaking] Arrest Warrant for Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn Dismissed… Special Prosecutor's Overreach Criticized

The arrest warrant for Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the new party Liberty and Innovation (former Prime Minister), which was requested by the Cho Eun-seok special prosecution team on charges of inciting rebellion, has been dismissed.

Judge Park Jeong-ho, who presided over the hearing for former Prime Minister Hwang's arrest warrant at the Seoul Central District Court, dismissed the warrant around 3:45 AM on the 14th, stating, "The necessity for detention cannot be recognized."

Consequently, former Prime Minister Hwang, who was in custody at the Seoul Detention Center after his hearing concluded around 8:30 PM the previous day, was released immediately.

During the pre-arrest interrogation (arrest warrant examination) for approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes starting at 4 PM on this day, former Prime Minister Hwang maintained his legal stance that "the declaration of martial law is not an act of rebellion."

This is expected to put a brake on the special prosecution team's drive to frame Hwang for rebellion.

Legal circles had already expressed self-criticism, pointing out that the special prosecutor's attempt to apply charges of inciting rebellion was a forced move stemming from political calculations, especially since the Constitutional Court excluded charges of rebellion in the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk-yeol, and a final verdict on President Yoon's rebellion charges has not yet been reached, despite the argument that "martial law cannot be rebellion."

Furthermore, there were criticisms that the special prosecutor's office, by unusually filing for an arrest warrant immediately on the day of arrest, had made a self-defeating move that angered public opinion.

The special prosecution team had been criticized for abandoning the principle of non-detention investigation as if discarding worn-out shoes, claiming they would prove the charges that former Prime Minister Hwang participated in inciting rebellion by posting a pro-martial law article on Facebook on December 3rd of last year, the day President Yoon declared emergency martial law.

It has been reported that former Prime Minister Hwang actively argued his innocence and explained the legal basis that the declaration of martial law cannot be an act of rebellion during the warrant examination.

Previous Article: 7:53 PM, 13th

Warrant Examination for Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn… 'Martial Law is Not Rebellion'

The court is currently conducting a hearing for the arrest warrant of Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the new party Liberty and Innovation (former Prime Minister), who was arrested by the Cho Eun-seok special prosecution team on charges of inciting rebellion and propaganda.

Judge Park Jeong-ho of the Seoul Central District Court began the pre-arrest interrogation of former Prime Minister Hwang (warrant examination) around 4 PM on this day and is currently deliberating.

Previously, the Cho Eun-seok special prosecution team requested an arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Hwang on charges of inciting rebellion and obstruction of official duties on the previous day.

It is unusual to request an arrest warrant immediately on the day of arrest.

The special prosecution team alleges that former Prime Minister Hwang participated in propaganda for rebellion by posting a pro-martial law article on Facebook on December 3rd of last year, following the declaration of emergency martial law by former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

In response, Hwang Kyo-ahn is known to deny all charges, stating that "the declaration of martial law is not an act of rebellion."

A rally calling for the release of former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn was held near the Seoul Central District Court on the 13th. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

Rebellion Special Prosecutor Arrests Hwang Kyo-ahn from his home on charges of 'Rebellion Propaganda and Incitement'. Yonhap News Agency.

Editorial Department