South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for Senior Officials (CIO) yesterday (January 3) announced to stop executing the arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol for declaring martial law on January 3. December 3, 2024, according to Yonhap. The CIO was forced to stop this effort because of concerns about the safety of employees due to obstruction, and said they “deeply regret” Mr. Yoon’s attitude of not following the procedures prescribed by law. The CIO added that it will consider next steps.
Unable to get past the Korean presidential protection group, investigators stopped the arrest warrant
The confrontation lasted for many hours
The CIO stopped executing the arrest warrant for Mr. Yoon at 1:30 p.m. on January 3 (Korean time), about 5 hours after a group of investigators and police arrived at the presidential palace in central Seoul to arrest him. Once inside, investigators presented a court-issued arrest warrant for Mr. Yoon and searched the presidential palace, but were refused by Mr. Park Chong-jun, Director of the Presidential Security Service (PSS). allowed in, citing security area restrictions, according to Yonhap. Before confronting PSS, the investigators were also opposed by a military unit stationed in the presidential palace area.
Police monitor supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gathering near the presidential palace in Seoul on January 3.
In addition, Reuters quoted a CIO official as saying that more than 200 PSS agents and soldiers formed several layers to block investigators and police. The official added that although there were scuffles and the PSS operatives appeared to be carrying weapons, no weapons were drawn.
Meanwhile, more than 1,000 protesters supporting Mr. Yoon gathered near the presidential palace, while there were about 2,700 police to maintain order. Thousands of people have gathered outside the presidential palace in recent days to protest the impeachment and arrest of Mr. Yoon.
The CIO has until January 6 to execute the arrest warrant for Mr. Yoon. The CIO plans to try to arrest Mr. Yoon on January 3 (Friday) because executing the arrest warrant on Saturday or Sunday could pose a risk of facing a larger crowd, while executing it on Saturday 6.1 would be too close to the deadline.
After the CIO stopped the arrest effort, Mr. Yoon’s legal team declared that the CIO had no authority to investigate the allegation of rebellion in declaring martial law. The legal team also said that it was unfortunate that the CIO attempted to “execute an illegal and invalid arrest and search warrant” in a sensitive security area.
Police and investigators leave the residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on January 3
Two generals were prosecuted
Meanwhile, the Korean Constitutional Court yesterday announced that it would hold the first debate session on January 14 in the impeachment case against President Yoon over the declaration of martial law to decide whether to depose him or not. , according to Reuters. Mr. Yoon was required to be present in this first debate session. The court also planned to hold a second argument session on January 16 in case Mr. Yoon refused to be present in the first session.
Also related to the declaration of martial law, Yonhap yesterday quoted Korean prosecutors as saying that General Park An-su (Chief of Staff of the Army) and Lieutenant General Kwak Jong-keun (commander of the Special Operations Command) Army Special Forces) was indicted on charges of rebellion and abuse of power. Mr. Park issued a martial law decree under his name on December 3, 2024.
Mr. Kwak is accused of sending special operations forces to the parliament under Mr. Yoon’s orders to protect the parliament building and prevent parliamentarians from passing a motion to reject martial law declared by Mr. Yoon. Prosecutors view the actions of Mr. Kwak and Park as intended to overthrow the constitution and amount to charges of sedition. These two generals were arrested last month.
