South Korean investigators with the anti-corruption unit recently left the presidential residence after an unsuccessful attempt to arrest the impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) cited ongoing confrontations that made it nearly impossible to execute the arrest warrant, which had been issued by a Seoul court on Tuesday. This unprecedented move marked the first time in the country's modern history that an arrest warrant was issued against a sitting president.
Yoon, implicated by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on insurrection charges, had declared martial law on the night of December 3. However, this declaration was swiftly revoked by the National Assembly within hours.
The National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against Yoon on December 14, forwarding it to the constitutional court for deliberation over up to 180 days. During this period, Yoon's presidential powers have been suspended.
Tense Standoff
The CIO reported halting the execution of the warrant at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time (0430 GMT) due to concerns over the safety of investigators on-site. They expressed deep regret over Yoon's refusal to adhere to legal procedures.
The investigative unit stated that future measures will be determined following relevant reviews, with the warrant remaining valid until the upcoming Monday.
Investigators arrived at the residence at around 7:21 a.m. local time and successfully passed the initial cordon of policemen to reach the main gate after approximately 40 minutes. Facing the final cordon of the security service inside the residence after breaking through the second cordon of soldiers, some investigators engaged in tussles with soldiers and security agents, though no injuries have been confirmed.
The CIO had previously warned that any obstruction of the arrest could constitute obstruction of justice. Approximately 2,700 riot policemen were reportedly deployed around the residence to facilitate the arrest warrant.
Additionally, the CIO has established a joint investigation unit with the National Office of Investigation and the Defense Ministry's investigation headquarters to examine Yoon's imposition of martial law.
Reference(s):
What happens next after S. Korean investigators fail to arrest Yoon?
cgtn.com
