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South Korea's CIO Seeks Arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol After Martial Law Standoff

Jan 4, 2025, 11:18 AM

South Korea's anti-corruption investigative agency, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO), attempted to execute an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on January 3, 2025. The warrant was issued in connection to Yoon's brief declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, which had been revoked by the National Assembly hours later. Investigators, accompanied by police, faced resistance from approximately 200 security personnel and military troops at the presidential residence in Seoul, leading to a six-hour standoff. Some security personnel were reportedly armed. The CIO ultimately suspended the arrest attempt, citing the obstruction. On January 4, the CIO requested Acting President Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Finance Minister, to order the presidential security service to comply with the warrant. The acting president has not yet responded to the request.