South Korean investigators are moving to extend the arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, following a failed attempt to execute the warrant last Friday.
An official announced on Monday that the anti-graft agency has requested police assistance to carry out the arrest.
The situation escalated during the previous attempt when Yoon’s presidential security service formed a human chain to prevent investigators from accessing him. Yoon is under investigation for insurrection related to his controversial bid for martial law on December 3, which shocked the nation and resulted in the first-ever arrest warrant issued for a sitting president.
The Chief Investigative Office (CIO), established in January 2021, is tasked with investigating high-ranking officials, including the president and their families. However, it lacks the authority to prosecute a sitting president. By law, the CIO must refer the case to the prosecutors’ office to take further action, including potential indictment.
The unprecedented nature of this investigation has sparked contrasting rallies across South Korea. Supporters of Yoon, echoing the “Stop the Steal” slogans popularized by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s supporters, are demanding his exoneration, while others are calling for accountability and punishment for Yoon’s actions.
On Monday, a group of devoted Yoon supporters, led by Christian pastor Jun Kwang-hoon, held a press conference, framing the situation as an “international battle” for freedom. “Sadly, there’s no Fox News in Korea,” they lamented, referencing the U.S. cable news channel favored by Trump supporters.
Jun stated that Yoon’s supporters would persist in their rallies outside his residence until they achieve their desired outcome, underscoring the deep divisions and heightened tensions surrounding the ongoing political crisis in South Korea.
