Authorities entered the compound of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk on Friday to execute an unprecedented arrest warrant amidst a crowd of protesters. They were met by presidential security forces inside, raising uncertainty over whether the Presidential Security Service (PSS) would try to impede the arrest. Yoon is facing a criminal investigation for attempting insurrection with a martial law decree on Dec. 3 that shocked South Korea and its democratic system. This potential arrest would mark the first for an incumbent South Korean president.
Officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), leading a joint investigative team with police and prosecutors, arrived at Yoon’s compound early in the morning. They initially faced hindrances due to a blocked driveway, eventually gaining access after navigating through obstacles. Once inside, they encountered PSS personnel and military troops assigned to presidential security. The Ministry of National Defense confirmed that the troops were under PSS control.
The standoff continued throughout the day, with Yoon’s lawyer asserting the arrest warrant as invalid and vowing legal action. Protesters gathered outside the residence, expressing support for Yoon and denouncing the investigating authorities. Some called for the head of the CIO to be arrested, while others hoped for U.S. President Donald Trump’s intervention.
The current arrest warrant is valid until Jan. 6, allowing investigators a limited window to decide Yoon’s fate after his arrest. If detained, Yoon is expected to be held at the Seoul Detention Center. Yoon’s declaration of surprise martial law on Dec. 3 sparked widespread opposition, with lawmakers swiftly voting against the measure after only a few hours.
After initially issuing a decree, Yoon later revoked it. He then provided a robust defense of his decision, alleging that his domestic political rivals hold sympathies for North Korea and making unverified accusations of election interference. According to reports from Yonhap, two South Korean military officials, including army chief Park An-su, who was appointed as the martial law commander during the brief implementation of martial law last month, have been formally charged after being taken into custody by investigators looking into charges of insurrection.
Kim Yong-hyun, who stepped down as Yoon’s defense minister following his involvement in the martial law proclamation, has also been detained and indicted on charges of insurrection and misuse of authority. Notably, insurrection is one of the few criminal offenses in South Korea for which a president does not possess immunity. Yoon’s legal team has contested the legality and validity of the arrest warrant, claiming that the Criminal Investigation Office (CIO) lacked the required authority under South Korean law to seek such a warrant.
In the wake of his impeachment and suspension from office on December 14th, Yoon has been largely isolated. Apart from the ongoing criminal probe, his impeachment case is currently under review by the Constitutional Court, which will determine whether to restore him to power or permanently remove him. A second hearing in this matter is slated to take place later today.
The information was reported by Joyce Lee, Eduardo Baptista, Hyunsu Yim, and Josh Smith. The article was written by Josh Smith and edited by Sandra Maler and Michael Perry.
