SEOUL, South Korea — On Monday, discussions intensified between South Korea’s anti-corruption agency and law enforcement on implementing more assertive actions to detain the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, following a failed attempt last week intercepted by the presidential security team.
These deliberations underscore the significant hurdles facing the investigation related to Yoon’s martial law declaration on December 3, which ultimately resulted in his impeachment on December 14. With the one-week detention warrant due to expire at midnight, the authorities sought to secure a new court order to prolong the period for detaining Yoon.
The Seoul Western District Court had previously issued a warrant for Yoon’s detention and another to search his residence after he defied the authorities by refusing to participate in questioning regarding his temporary seizure of power. Carrying out these warrants has become complicated while Yoon remains at his official residence.
Yoon has characterized his actions as necessary for governance, arguing that the liberal opposition has been obstructing his agenda due to its majority in the legislature. He has committed to resisting any moves to remove him from office. Even though martial law was declared for a short duration, it incited substantial political, diplomatic, and financial turmoil across South Korea, revealing the vulnerabilities of the nation’s democracy, which exists in a deeply divided society.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials, which spearheads a joint inquiry alongside police and military investigators, indicated on Monday that it had requested police to take over the efforts to detain Yoon, especially in light of the unsuccessful attempt made on Friday.
However, this position changed swiftly when police expressed concerns that solely taking responsibility for Yoon’s detention could pose legal challenges, especially considering that the warrants were secured by the anti-corruption agency. As a result, despite its prior involvement, the agency indicated that the warrants would be executed under the joint investigation team’s authority, though it did not specify if its tactics would undergo any alterations.
Law enforcement has pledged to escalate efforts to detain Yoon, particularly at the official residence, where evidence of increased security measures has surfaced, including the installation of barbed wire by the presidential security detail.
A police representative, who requested anonymity, informed reporters that there had been deliberations regarding the potential to arrest members of the presidential security team should they forcibly prevent attempts to detain Yoon.
When questioned about the deployment of special police task forces, the official indicated that all available options were under consideration.
If authorities succeed in detaining Yoon, they are anticipated to seek court approval for a formal arrest; otherwise, he would be released after 48 hours.
In the meantime, the anti-corruption agency has called upon the acting leader of the country, Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, to ensure the presidential security service complies with the execution of the detention warrant. Choi has not yet made any public statements on this matter.
In defense, Yoon’s legal team contends that the warrants to detain and search the president cannot be executed at his residence due to laws protecting locations connected to military secrets from searches without consent, which would be required from Yoon himself. Additionally, they assert that the anti-corruption agency lacks the legal standing to investigate charges of rebellion or to grant police the authority to detain Yoon.
On the same day, Yoon’s lawyers filed grievances with public prosecutors against the supervisory prosecutor of the anti-corruption agency, Oh Dong-woon, along with six other anti-corruption and police officials for allegedly executing an illegal detention attempt on Friday.
Furthermore, complaints were also filed against key figures, including the acting national police chief, the acting defense minister, and two Seoul police officials for neglecting requests from the presidential security service for additional personnel during the detainment attempt. Yoon’s legal representation stated plans to file grievances against about 150 investigators from the anti-corruption agency and police involved in that operation.
The investigation into Yoon’s actions, particularly his martial law declaration and the subsequent military presence around the National Assembly, has led the anti-corruption agency to contemplate charges of rebellion. Lawmakers who managed to bypass the military block subsequently voted to revoke martial law within hours.
The ultimate decision regarding Yoon’s political fate now rests with the Constitutional Court, which has commenced deliberations on whether to officially remove him from office or reinstate him.
