South Korea’s anti-corruption agency has formally requested police assistance to execute an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, just hours before the warrant’s expiration. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) made the request in an official letter late Sunday, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Yoon faces allegations of power abuse and insurrection tied to his December 3 martial law declaration, which included directives to military commanders. The CIO has emphasized that it will retain investigative authority in the case and plans to seek an extension of the arrest warrant, which is set to expire at midnight on Monday.
The move follows a failed attempt by the CIO on Saturday to detain Yoon at his official residence. The effort resulted in an hours-long standoff with presidential security staff, forcing the agency to withdraw.
Yoon’s legal team filed an objection to the execution of the warrant, which was dismissed by the court on Sunday. In response to the CIO’s latest announcement, Yoon’s representatives condemned the decision to involve police, calling it “another illegal action.”
The case has drawn significant public and political attention, with the CIO working alongside the police and the defense ministry’s investigative unit to examine the circumstances surrounding Yoon’s controversial martial law decree.
The Seoul Western District Court initially issued the arrest warrant on December 31 after Yoon failed to comply with multiple requests from the CIO to appear for questioning. The warrant’s expiration has placed the agency under pressure to act decisively, with limited time remaining to secure his detention.
The martial law declaration at the heart of the case has been widely criticized as an unprecedented abuse of executive power, sparking nationwide protests and leading to Yoon’s impeachment. Legal experts and opposition lawmakers have expressed concern over the implications of the case for South Korea’s democratic institutions and rule of law.
The CIO’s actions, including the involvement of police, signal its determination to pursue accountability at the highest levels of government. However, the ongoing legal and political standoff underscores the complexities of navigating allegations of power abuse involving a sitting president.
As the midnight deadline approaches, the focus remains on whether the CIO and law enforcement will successfully execute the warrant and what the next steps will be in the unfolding investigation.
