Investigators arrive at South Korea’s presidential residence to execute arrest warrant
According to Yonhap News Agency’s report on Friday morning local time, investigators from the South Korea Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) have arrived at the official residence in Seoul, Seoul, and executed an arrest warrant for the impeached president.
President Yoon Suk Yeol is wanted in multiple investigations, including on charges of leading a rebellion after martial law was suddenly declared in early December – a crime punishable by life imprisonment or even death.
On Tuesday, a court approved an arrest warrant for Yoon – the first such action against a sitting president, deepening the drama between investigators and the president. The presidential security team responded that “security measures will be taken in accordance with due procedures for matters related to the execution of the arrest warrant.”
Last month, parliament voted to impeach the leader, stripping him of his presidential powers, after some members of his ruling party attacked him for refusing to resign over his short-lived decree.
Yoon, a former prosecutor himself, has refused in recent weeks to respond to three subpoenas from investigators asking him to cooperate, according to the chief information officer.
The suspended president remains defiant in the face of an ongoing investigation and impeachment trial at one of the country’s highest courts, vowing to “fight to the end” for the country.
The statement, shared with supporters who gathered outside his official residence earlier this week, was his first public comment in weeks after he largely stayed out of the public eye amid the fallout from the widely condemned decree.
Yoon unexpectedly declared martial law in a late-night speech on December 3, claiming that opposition lawmakers were “paralyzing national affairs” and that the move was necessary to “protect free Korea” from threats from “anti-national elements.”
About six hours later, members of the National Assembly, including some members of Yun’s own party, voted to lift martial law. Yin’s order was met with fierce opposition from the public and lawmakers across the political spectrum, rekindling painful memories of the country’s authoritarian past.
In the weeks since, South Korea has been plunged into political chaos, with parliament also voting to impeach Prime Minister and acting President Han Deok-soo, just weeks after voting to impeach Yoon. The current president is represented by Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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