Wednesday, January 8, 2025 -South Korean anti-graft investigators secured a new court-ordered arrest warrant Tuesday, January 7, for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, whose failed martial law bid plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades.
The former star prosecutor has refused questioning three times since his
December 3 martial law decree, remaining holed up in his residence, surrounded
by hundreds of guards preventing his detention.
“The arrest warrant re-requested for the suspect Yoon was issued today
in the afternoon,” the Joint Investigation Headquarters stated. The Corruption
Investigation Office (CIO), leading the probe, has kept the duration of the new
warrant secret after the initial seven-day one expired. Seoul Western District
Court declined to confirm the warrant’s details when contacted by AFP.
If detained, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president
to be arrested. However, investigators would have only 48 hours to either
request another arrest warrant or release him. The anti-graft officials have
sought additional time and resources due to security forces obstructing their
first attempt to detain Yoon at his residence last Friday.
Yoon faces charges of insurrection and, if formally arrested and
convicted, could face either imprisonment or, in the most severe case, the
death penalty. His lawyers have labelled the initial warrant “unlawful” and
pledged further legal action, arguing that the CIO lacks the authority to
investigate insurrection as it is not listed among its designated offences.
The situation has left South Korea in unprecedented political
turmoil—whether Yoon is arrested or evades court-ordered detention, the outcome
will be historic. CIO chief Oh Dong-woon expressed regret for the failed arrest
attempt, stating, “I must express my sincere apologies to the public for the
failure to execute the arrest warrant due to the security measures taken by the
Presidential Security Service.” Yoon’s presidential guards had refused to stand
down during a six-hour standoff on Friday.
The CIO established less than four years ago with fewer than 100 staff,
has yet to prosecute a single case. “Naturally, they have no prior experience
with arrests, let alone something as significant as arresting the president,”
said Yun Bok-Nam, president of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, who is not
involved in the investigation.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party has filed a legal
complaint against acting president Choi Sang-mok for “dereliction of duty”
after he failed to intervene as requested. The Constitutional Court has set
January 14 for the start of Yoon’s impeachment trial, which will proceed in his
absence if he does not attend. While local media reported he was likely to
appear on the opening day, Yoon’s lawyer told AFP his appearance was still
“undecided.”
The court has up to 180 days to decide whether to remove or reinstate
Yoon as president. Opposition party lawmaker Youn Kun-young has described
Yoon’s residence as “turning into a fortress,” claiming guards were installing
barbed wire and vehicle barricades. Many supporters have also camped outside
his residence despite freezing weather.
While investigators have yet to reach Yoon, they have targeted top
military officials involved in the martial law plan.
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