The South Korean anti-corruption agency has turned to the national police force in a renewed effort to detain impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol. This move comes after the agency’s investigators were unable to secure his arrest following a standoff with the presidential security service last week.
Both the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) and the police confirmed the request on Monday, mere hours before the one-week detention warrant for Yoon was set to expire at midnight (1500 GMT) on Monday. The urgency underscores the escalating tensions surrounding this unprecedented situation.
According to police sources, the CIO is likely to request a new court warrant to extend the deadline for Yoon’s detention. The police are currently reviewing the agency’s request internally. It remains unclear whether the anti-corruption agency will make another attempt to detain the impeached leader before the midnight deadline.
Yoon became the first incumbent South Korean president to face arrest following his failed attempt to declare martial law on December 3. Last Tuesday, the Seoul Western District Court issued a warrant to detain Yoon and a separate warrant to search his residence. However, executing these warrants has proven challenging as long as Yoon remains within the confines of his official residence.
On Sunday, Park Chong-jun, the chief of security for Yoon, stated that he could not cooperate with efforts to arrest the impeached leader due to ongoing legal debates surrounding the arrest warrant. Park defended the presidential security service’s actions, emphasizing its 60-year history of providing security to all South Korean presidents, regardless of political affiliation. He also cautioned against criticism suggesting that the service had been reduced to a “private army.”
As the clock ticks toward the expiration of the detention warrant, the nation watches closely to see how this unprecedented situation unfolds. The potential arrest of an incumbent president marks a significant moment in South Korea’s political landscape, raising questions about legal procedures, presidential immunity, and the role of security services in such circumstances.
Reference(s):
S. Korean police entrusted with execution of warrant to arrest Yoon
cgtn.com
