South Korean investigators have once again urged the country’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, to direct the presidential security service to comply with an arrest warrant issued for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The latest request follows an earlier incident on Friday when Yoon’s security personnel and military forces blocked prosecutors from arresting him in a six-hour standoff at his residence in Seoul. The standoff occurred after investigators secured a warrant for Yoon’s arrest due to his controversial declaration of martial law last month.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), which is overseeing the case, reiterated its request to the acting president to ensure the security service cooperates with the legal orders. Yoon, facing charges of insurrection, is one of the few figures in South Korea who cannot claim presidential immunity, making him liable for criminal prosecution. Should the warrant be executed, Yoon would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.
The situation remains tense, with Yoon holed up in his presidential compound, refusing to cooperate with the investigators on multiple occasions. On Friday, a dramatic standoff ensued when Yoon’s guards and military troops outnumbered the police, blocking their efforts to execute the arrest. Despite clashes between the two sides, no shots were fired.
The warrant is set to expire on Monday, and officials are considering applying for a new one if it lapses. Meanwhile, Yoon’s impeachment trial is set to begin on January 14. The political turmoil surrounding Yoon’s presidency has raised concerns over the stability of the country, and the United States has urged South Korea’s political leadership to seek a “stable path” forward.
As the situation develops, legal experts suggest that the investigators may wait for the Constitutional Court’s ruling on Yoon’s impeachment before making another attempt to arrest him. Yoon’s legal team has denounced the arrest attempt, calling it unlawful, while top officials from the presidential security service have refused police requests to appear for questioning.
