In a dramatic twist, the impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol successfully dodged arrest when a crucial deadline came and went, although it appears that anti-corruption investigators may receive an extension to enforce the existing warrant against him.
Once a prominent prosecutor, Yoon has defiantly skipped questioning on three separate occasions, stemming from controversy over a failed martial law decree issued last month. For now, he remains holed up in his residence, guarded by a formidable contingent of security personnel who are effectively staving off any attempts to bring him in.
Officers from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) are pushing for an extension to the expired warrant, initially set to lapse at 3 PM Irish time on Monday. They have sought assistance from law enforcement, which has indicated it’s prepared to assist—but also hinted they might arrest anyone who obstructs their efforts to apprehend Yoon.
As one police official noted, “The validity of the warrant expires today.” The formal request for an extension was submitted later that evening, leaving the door open for a potential extension up until midnight. However, if the warrant does expire, investigators have the option to submit another request for a new one.
The passing of the deadline garnered little response from either the investigation team or Yoon himself, though it was mentioned earlier by Mr. Jae-seung that “the likelihood for the court not to grant the extension is very low.”
Authorities have expressed a need for additional time and resources, particularly after facing significant resistance when they attempted to enter Yoon’s heavily guarded presidential compound last Friday. In light of that, police officials are mulling the possibility of detaining members of the Presidential Security Service if they continue to block access during any subsequent warrants.
Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Party has called for a total overhaul of the security service assigned to protect the impeached president.
If Yoon were to be taken into custody—after already being suspended from his duties by the National Assembly—he would make history as the first sitting president in South Korea to face arrest.
However, should this happen, the authorities would only have a narrow window of 48 hours to either secure another arrest warrant for continued detention or release him. This regulatory time frame puts immense pressure on the investigators.
Despite challenges in accessing Yoon, the joint investigation team has turned its focus on high-ranking military officials who were involved in the controversial martial law proposal. This has led to the indictment of Defence Intelligence Commander Moon Sang-ho, whom prosecutors accuse of playing a pivotal role in an alleged insurrection and misuse of power.
The stakes for Yoon are extraordinarily high; should he be found guilty of insurrection, he could face prison time—or even, in the worst-case scenario, the death penalty—for temporarily suspending civilian governance and triggering South Korea’s most severe political upheaval in years. Yet, Yoon and his loyalists remain resolute in their defense.
“We’re going to stand by the Presidential Security Service until midnight,” declared Kim Soo-yong, 62, one of the organizers of a protest in support of Yoon. “If they manage to secure another warrant, we’ll mobilize again.”
Supporters of President Yoon gathered en masse outside his residence, much to the dismay of law enforcement, which was forced to seal off nearby roads. “I’ve been here longer than the CIO has. It doesn’t add up why they can’t execute the arrest,” voiced Kim Ah-young, an organizer of protests against Yoon. “They simply must act swiftly.”
The initial justification for the warrant stemmed from Yoon’s repeated refusals to cooperate with questioning regarding the martial law decree. His legal team has vehemently labeled the warrant as “unlawful” and “illegal” and have made it clear that they intend to pursue further legal challenges against it.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in town, engaging in discussions with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul, though he did not meet Yoon personally. Blinken praised South Korea’s robust democratic framework, although his focus shifted rapidly when North Korea launched what looked to be an intercontinental ballistic missile into the sea during their joint news conference.
As South Korea’s Constitutional Court gears up for Yoon’s impeachment trial, slated for January 14, 2024, implications loom large. If Yoon opts not to attend, proceedings will move forward in his absence. Evidence indicating that Yoon neglected advice from key members of his cabinet concerning the failed martial law initiative could significantly impact the court’s deliberations. The Constitutional Court has a time frame of up to 180 days to either affirm Yoon’s dismissal or reinstate his presidential authority, a decision with historical resonance; former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye both chose to forgo their impeachment trials.
Edited by: Ali Musa
alimusa@axadletimes.com
Axadle international–Monitoring
