Photo by Markus Winkler
South Korea’s anti-corruption agency said it has received an extension of a court-issued arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol. The Corruption Investigation Office of Senior Officials (CIO) did not immediately confirm on Tuesday how long the warrant would be valid. After a previous attempt to arrest Yoon was blocked by the Presidential Security Service last week, investigators requested an extension of the warrant, which was set to expire on Monday.
The Seoul Western District Court had previously authorized an arrest warrant for Yoon, along with a separate warrant to conduct a search of his home, following his noncompliance with authorities by not attending a questioning session regarding the martial law decree issued on December 3. On Friday , numerous investigators from the anti-corruption agency, supported by police officers, attempted to apprehend Yoon. However, they withdrew from his residence in Seoul after a prolonged standoff exceeding five hours with the Presidential Security Service.
Yoon Suk-Yeol legal representatives have asserted that the arrest warrant issued against him is “illegal,” arguing that the anti-corruption investigators responsible for the criminal case do not possess the requisite authority to manage a matter as grave as insurrection.
The presidential security service (PSS) has referenced this assertion as a justification for obstructing Yoon’s arrest, in addition to the fact that he continues to serve as president until the constitutional court delivers a ruling on his impeachment. Park Jong-joon, the chief of the security service, stated on Sunday that for the PSS, whose primary responsibility is to ensure the president’s absolute safety, to execute an arrest warrant during ongoing legal disputes would effectively mean neglecting its obligations.
On Monday, Yoon Suk’s legal team filed complaints against the investigators related to the attempted arrest, claiming that Yoon had been “essentially detained at his home.” They also requested an injunction against the warrant, which the court rejected, leading them to deliberate on the possibility of an appeal. Meanwhile, acting president Choi Sang-mok has stood firm against the opposition’s calls to dismiss significant security officials who are impeding the arrest.
Investigators have the option to request a new detention warrant, subject to judicial approval. This would permit the detention of Yoon for a maximum of 20 days, in contrast to an arrest warrant, which only authorizes a 48-hour hold. However, without a modification in either the circumstances or their strategy, it appears impossible that investigators or law enforcement will succeed in executing the arrest.
