South Korean anti-corruption investigators have refiled a court application to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol after the expiration of the initial arrest warrant, which was not executed.
According to the AFP, President Yoon faces allegations of insurrection following an alleged failed attempt to enforce martial law, an event that plunged the nation into its most severe political crisis in decades.
On Monday, the Corruption Investigation Office announced that it had submitted a new request to the Seoul Western District Court to extend the arrest warrant for Yoon.
“Details regarding the validity period cannot be disclosed,” the CIO stated, referencing the expiration of the initial seven-day warrant.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the outcome of the new request remained uncertain. However, CIO Deputy Director Lee Jae-Seung expressed optimism earlier in the day, stating, “The likelihood of the court rejecting the new warrant is very low.”
Yoon, a former top prosecutor, has refused to cooperate with questioning on three occasions. Since last week, he has been confined to his residence, which is heavily guarded by a security force that has successfully thwarted investigators’ attempts to arrest him.
The CIO’s attempts to detain Yoon have encountered significant challenges, including resistance from his presidential security detail and legal objections from his defence team.
“The initial warrant was completely unlawful,” Yoon’s lawyers argued, asserting that the CIO lacks the jurisdiction to investigate insurrection charges.
Legal experts believe the reissued warrant is likely to be approved. “Given the severity of the charges and the circumstances, the chances of the warrant being granted are quite high,” said Yun Bok-Nam, president of Lawyers for a Democratic Society.
The investigation has underscored the difficulties faced by the CIO, a relatively new agency with fewer than 100 staff members.
“They lack experience in handling high-profile arrests, let alone detaining a sitting president,” Yun added, stressing the importance of collaboration with the police under the Joint Investigation Headquarters.
The political stakes are further heightened as the Constitutional Court prepares for Yoon’s impeachment trial, set to begin on January 14. The court has up to 180 days to determine whether Yoon will be removed from office or reinstated.
While local media suggest Yoon may attend the trial’s opening session, his lawyer was noncommittal. “His appearance on that date is still undecided,” the attorney told reporters.
This case is unprecedented in South Korea, as no sitting president has ever been arrested. If convicted, Yoon could face severe penalties, ranging from imprisonment to the death sentence.
Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party has called for action against acting President Choi Sang-mok, accusing him of “dereliction of duty” for not intervening in the case.
Supporters of the embattled president continue to gather outside his residence despite the freezing weather. However, the scene was calmer on Tuesday as no active warrant was in place.
