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Rep. Choo Kyung-ho of the People Power Party arrives at the Seoul Central District Court for a warrant hearing on December 2. / Yonhap

The Democratic Party on Wednesday sharply criticized the court’s decision to dismiss the arrest warrant for Rep. Choo Kyung-ho, saying the ruling trampled on public demands to clear away the remnants of the December 3 insurrection.

In a statement, chief spokesperson Park Soo-hyun said, “We express deep regret over the court’s irrational ruling,” adding, “Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae’s judiciary is crushing the people’s aspirations for clearing the insurrection and restoring constitutional order.”

Park said Choo had repeatedly changed the meeting locations for People Power Party lawmakers, obstructing their ability to exercise their constitutional authority during the vote on ending martial law. “Even now, Choo shows no reflection or apology regarding the charge of engaging in a key role in the insurrection, responding only with lies and evasion,” he said.

Earlier that morning, the court rejected the arrest warrant, citing room for dispute over both the allegations and the legal interpretation. Judge Lee Jeong-jae, who presided over the warrant review, said, “Given the progress of the investigation, his appearance record, and the evidence collected, it is difficult to find risk of flight or destruction of evidence,” adding that grounds for detention were insufficient.

The Democratic Party also targeted the People Power Party leadership. “The ruling party’s brazen behavior is even more outrageous,” Park said. “Its leaders and key suspects continue scheming to cover up the truth with lies, deceiving the public. Those who obstruct the clearing of the insurrection and the restoration of constitutional order will ultimately be judged and dissolved by the people.”

Park emphasized that the party would push forward with institutional reform. “We will proceed without hesitation on judicial reform and democratic restructuring of investigative bodies, faithfully fulfilling the public mandate for clearing the insurrection and restoring constitutional governance,” he said.