January 6, 2025
SEOUL – The investigative body leading the criminal investigation of President Yoon Suk Yeol said Monday it has asked police to take over matters related to the arrest of the president, as it works to request an extension of the arrest warrant from the court.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials said it made the request Sunday via an official letter to the National Office of Investigation, an affiliate of the National Police Agency. It stressed that the agency would not relinquish investigative duties concerning the president, who faces charges of power abuse and insurrection connected to his Dec. 3 martial law declaration and related orders to military commanders.
The CIO also said it would request from the court later in the day for an extension of the arrest warrant, which is set to expire on Monday at midnight.
Police said the request to take over arrest duties was made unilaterally by the CIO without police input, and that the agency is conducting a legal review.
The CIO, which has been heading the joint investigation into Yoon, attempted Friday to take Yoon into custody, but was pulled out after an hourslong standoff with the Presidential Security Service. No notable movements of the president’s security team or the investigators were seen Monday morning.
Officials from the CIO had raided Yoon’s official residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul to arrest him. But dozens of investigators faced resistance from the presidential security team, who refused entry to the premise despite being shown the legal arrest order.
It was reported that a dispute between the CIO and police occurred over the arrest of PSS head Park Jong-joon, who has been summoned for questioning by police for his refusal of the warrant’s execution. Police reportedly suggested arresting Park on the spot, but the CIO rejected the idea.
Following the attempt to arrest Yoon, the president’s legal representatives filed an objection on execution of the warrant, which the court dismissed Sunday. In response to the CIO’s announcement Monday, Yoon’s legal representatives said that relegating Yoon’s arrest to police is yet another illegal action.
With Yoon’s future still unclear, protesters on both sides — calling for Yoon’s arrest and his protection — gathered near the presidential residence for demonstrations throughout the weekend. Dozens of lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party entered the residence Monday morning, in a bid to hinder Yoon’s arrest.
Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, a four-time lawmaker in the pro-Yoon faction of the party, told reporters his party would stop what he claimed to be the illegal arrest of the president.
Yoon is under criminal investigation for insurrection and power abuse charges, while also facing an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court for the same charges.