On January 8, 2025, security personnel gathered near parked buses at the main entrance of the official residence in Seoul, South Korea, to protect impeached South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol from a possible second arrest.
Reuters | Kim Hong-chi
South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol reportedly arrested South Korea’s Senior Officials Corruption Investigation Office has launched its first investigation into a current South Korean leader.
It was the second failed attempt to arrest the impeached president, after agents from South Korea’s Presidential Security Service blocked investigators from entering Mr. Yoon’s residence on January 3.
It was reported that approximately 1,000 police officers were involved in the second operation to execute the arrest warrant, nearly 10 times as many as in the first attempt.
The CIO initially applied for an arrest warrant after Yoon failed to appear for questioning, which was granted by the Seoul District Court on December 31. The warrant initially expired on January 6 and was later extended.
Yoon faces rebellion charges after declaring martial law on Dec. 3, which is not subject to presidential immunity and carries a maximum penalty of death.
On December 3, Yoon made a surprise late-night broadcast and declared martial law, citing the need to protect the country from “North Korean communist forces” and “anti-national forces.” This is the first time in more than 40 years that South Korea has declared martial law.
Lawmakers subsequently managed to get past police barricades and vote down the statement in the country’s parliament, days before an impeachment motion was filed against Yoon. Yin was impeached and suspended from office on December 14.
The Constitutional Court of South Korea has
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