South Korean Investigators Seek Arrest of Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol Amid Political Crisis
Yoon’s Supporters Rally Outside Residence, Vow to Protect Him as Warrant Deadline Approaches
SEOUL – South Korea’s anti-graft investigators have formally requested the police to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, after failing to bring him into custody over his controversial martial law bid. The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) has been locked in a tense standoff with Yoon, who has defied questioning and barricaded himself in his residence, leaving authorities in a struggle to enforce the arrest warrant.
The warrant, which expires Monday, was issued following Yoon’s refusal to cooperate with investigators over his failed attempt to impose martial law, an action that has plunged the nation into its worst political crisis in decades. Investigators argue that his actions, which included suspending civilian rule, could lead to charges of insurrection, with potential sentences including prison or, in the most extreme case, the death penalty.
Despite the looming legal deadline, Yoon’s legal team has staunchly contested the validity of the warrant, declaring it “unlawful” and “illegal.” In response, the CIO deputy director, Lee Jae-seung, confirmed plans to request an extension of the warrant from the court, though police have yet to approve the request. Tensions ran high last week, when investigators halted their efforts due to safety concerns amid a standoff with hundreds of security personnel.
Yoon’s supporters, including members of his People Power Party, gathered in large numbers outside his residence, pledging to protect him from arrest. They have called the investigation politically motivated, while anti-Yoon protesters demand immediate action. Kim Soo-yong, one of the protest organizers, declared, “We will protect the Presidential Security Service till midnight” – the warrant’s expiry time.
The confrontation coincides with the arrival of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Seoul, who was scheduled to meet with senior South Korean officials, including acting President Choi Sang-mok. However, domestic tensions quickly escalated as North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile into the sea, diverting attention from the political crisis.
Read More: South Korean Court Issues Arrest Warrants for Former President Yoon Suk-yeol
Yoon’s impeachment trial is set to begin on January 14, with the Constitutional Court tasked with determining whether to dismiss him as president. In the meantime, Yoon’s legal team is preparing to challenge the investigation, with a focus on holding CIO officials accountable for alleged illegal actions.
As South Korea teeters on the edge of unprecedented political turmoil, the outcome of this legal battle will define the country’s democratic stability and set a critical precedent for future presidential accountability.
