Seo Jeong-uk: 'For Kim Keon-hee, an image of being persecuted is better than being arrested'

As the detention period of former First Lady Kim Keon-hee expires in 31 days, the special prosecutor's team (a team of prosecutors assigned to investigate a specific case) has requested the Supreme Court to extend her detention.

Attorney Seo Jeong-uk, a close associate of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, argued on the 16th that "politically, an image of being persecuted is better, and her release could bring a backlash." Speaking on CBS Radio's 'Park Sung-taek's News Show' when asked about the possibility of a new arrest warrant, Seo said, "The defense team expects a warrant to be issued, but this should not be done." He added, "In principle, when the period expires, she should be released." However, Seo also said, "Considering an individual's human rights, releasing her is the right thing to do," adding, "If a warrant is issued this time, I intend to visit Kim for a meeting."

Yoo Jeong-hwa, an attorney for Kim Keon-hee, argued on Facebook on the 15th that "the fact that the detention period in an existing case has expired cannot support the need for detention in a different case." He said, "In a separate case where the investigation and first-instance trial have concluded and only the appeal remains, what concrete risk of evidence destruction or flight is there?" He continued, "The Supreme Court must strictly and independently assess the specific grounds for and necessity of detention."