Investigators halt attempt to detain South Korean president after standoff
(VOVWORLD) - The South Korean Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) decided Friday to suspend the execution of a warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, after hours-long standoff between the CIO-led joint investigation team and presidential security forces.
 Investigators from the state anti-corruption agency walk into the entrance of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residence in Seoul on January 3, 2025, to execute a warrant to detain Yoon over his failed bid to impose martial law in December. (Photo: Yonhap/VNA) |
The announcement came after more than 1,000 protesters gathered near Yoon’s residence on Friday morning.
"We determined that executing the detention warrant would be practically impossible due to the continued confrontation, and suspended the execution out of concern for the safety of on-site personnel caused by the resistance," the CIO said in a notice to the press.
The CIO has until Monday to execute the detention warrant on charges related to Yoon’s short-lived imposition of martial law on December 3.
The South Korean Constitutional Court is scheduled to hold the first oral arguments for the impeachment trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol on January 14. Yoon is required to attend the first arguments. If he fails to attend, a second session will be held on January 16.