Investigators from the state anti-corruption agency walk into the entrance of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official residence in Seoul on Jan. 3, 2025, to execute a warrant to detain Yoon over his failed bid to impose martial law in December. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 3 (Korea Bizwire) — Investigators attempting to execute a warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid were locked in a standoff with the Presidential Security Service outside the presidential residence Friday.
Investigators with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) presented warrants to detain Yoon and search the residence, but PSS chief Park Chong-jun denied their entry, citing restrictions on secured areas.
“CIO prosecutors and investigators are in a standoff with the Presidential Security Service in front of the residence after moving past the first and second barriers,” a police official said, referring to the gates of the compound and an earlier standoff with a military unit stationed on the grounds.
The CIO has until Monday to execute the detention warrant on charges of insurrection and abuse of power linked to Yoon’s short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3.
Rallies by Yoon’s supporters outside the presidential residence, however, have complicated the CIO’s effort, along with the potential for clashes with the Presidential Security Service.
Thousands of supporters have gathered near the residence in recent days to oppose Yoon’s impeachment and block his arrest. Some have been forcibly dispersed by the police and carried away by their limbs.
Observers said executing the warrant on Saturday or Sunday could risk confronting even larger crowds, while executing it Monday would be too close to the deadline.
The CIO has teamed up with the police and the defense ministry’s investigation unit to conduct a joint probe into Yoon’s failed martial law bid.
The team executing the warrant comprises 30 people from the CIO and 120 police personnel, of which 70 were initially waiting outside the residence compound. A number of them were later sent inside to assist with the effort.
The CIO requested the detention warrant after Yoon ignored all three summonses to appear for questioning. The agency has also obtained a warrant to search the presidential residence.
Yoon’s legal defense team has called the warrants “illegal and invalid” and filed for an injunction against their execution.
On Friday, Yun Gap-geun, a lawyer on the team, told Yonhap News Agency “legal action” will be sought against the CIO’s attempt.
In the event the Presidential Security Service or Yoon’s supporters attempt to stop the CIO from executing the detention arrest, police have said they will take them into custody on charges of obstruction of official duties.
If Yoon is arrested, investigators plan to take him to the CIO’s headquarters in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, for questioning before detaining him at the Seoul Detention Center in nearby Uiwang.
Once detained, the CIO will have 48 hours to either seek another warrant for his formal arrest or release him.
(Yonhap)
