SEOUL: The state anti-corruption agency in South Korea is preparing to execute a detention warrant against President Yoon Suk Yeol, potentially as early as Thursday. This development follows a decision by the Seoul Western District Court, which granted the warrant over Yoon's brief imposition of martial law, marking the first time a sitting South Korean president faces arrest.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) is collaborating with the police to determine the timing and method for executing the warrant. The court issued the warrant on Tuesday, charging Yoon with masterminding the short-lived martial law declaration on December 3 and abusing his power. The CIO sought the warrant after Yoon failed to respond to three summonses for questioning as part of a joint investigation with the police and the defense ministry.
The CIO is considering the execution of the warrant with caution, given it involves a sitting president. Although warrants are typically carried out swiftly, the timing and manner of execution are being carefully planned. The presidential security service has announced it will implement security measures following due process, which raises concerns about potential obstruction of the warrant's execution on security grounds.
The warrant, which expires on Monday, includes permission to search the presidential residence. This decision outlines an exception to laws that generally restrict searches in areas containing military secrets or the seizure of official secrets without consent. Previously, the security service had blocked a raid on the presidential office on similar grounds.
CIO Chief Oh Dong-woon urged the security service to cooperate with the warrant's execution, warning that any obstruction could be considered dereliction of duty. Should Yoon be arrested, investigators plan to transport him to the CIO headquarters in Gwacheon for questioning before detaining him at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang. The CIO will then have 48 hours to either request another warrant for Yoon's formal arrest or release him.