- Investigators from South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) have arrived at President Yoon Suk Yeol’s residence to enforce an arrest warrant.
- The warrant is related to multiple investigations, including accusations of leading an insurrection, a crime punishable by life imprisonment or death.
- This is the first time an arrest warrant has been issued for a sitting president in South Korea.
In a dramatic turn of events, investigators from South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) arrived at President Yoon Suk Yeol’s residence in Seoul on Friday morning local time to enforce an arrest warrant. This move comes after a court approved the warrant on Tuesday, marking the first time such a measure has been taken against a sitting president in South Korea.
President Yoon is wanted for questioning in multiple investigations, including accusations of leading an insurrection, a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty. This follows his sudden declaration of martial law in early December, which sparked widespread controversy and led to his impeachment by a parliamentary vote last month.
The presidential security team has responded by stating that “security measures will be taken in accordance with due process for matters related to the execution of warrants.” Meanwhile, Yoon, a former prosecutor, has refused to cooperate with investigators, ignoring three summonses in recent weeks.
Despite facing investigations and an impeachment trial, Yoon has remained defiant, vowing to “fight to the end” for the country. His statement, shared with supporters outside his residence, marked his first public comment in weeks after largely staying out of the public eye following his widely condemned decree.
