South Korea's CIO Seeks Extension of Arrest Warrant for Yoon, Asks Police to Intervene After Martial Law Standoff

Jan 6, 2025, 01:28 AM

South Korean investigators are seeking an extension of the arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, which is set to expire on Monday. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), led by deputy director Lee Jae-seung, has requested that police take over the execution of the warrant after a failed attempt last week to detain Yoon at his residence. The standoff with the presidential security service, which lasted over five hours, prevented the execution of the warrant despite the presence of 3,000 police officers. The Seoul Western District Court issued the arrest and search warrants on December 31. Yoon, who was impeached on December 14, 2024, following a brief imposition of martial law on December 3, remains at his residence surrounded by security forces. The Constitutional Court is currently deliberating on Yoon's impeachment, with a trial set to begin on January 14, and has up to 180 days to make a decision. Yoon's legal team has challenged the legality of the warrants and plans to file complaints against those involved in the detention attempt.