South Korean agency asks police to execute arrest warrant for impeached president

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) – South Korea’s anti-corruption agency has asked the police to execute a warrant for the detention of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law attempt, both sides confirmed Monday.

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) submitted an official request late Sunday, just one day before the warrant expires.

"The CIO sent us an official letter requesting our cooperation without prior consultations," a police official told Yonhap news agency, adding: "We are internally carrying out a legal review."

The CIO suspended its execution of the warrant on Friday following a prolonged standoff with presidential security staff at the presidential residence.

The agency has been collaborating with the police and the Defense Ministry's investigation unit on a joint probe into Yoon's brief imposition of martial law on Dec. 3.

With the warrant set to expire at midnight local time, the CIO was expected to either make a second attempt to detain Yoon, request an extension, or consider other options.

Sources indicated that the CIO's letter has sparked complaints within the police that the agency is shifting responsibility after its passive handling of the warrant on Friday.

Yoon's legal team has dismissed the warrant as illegal and invalid, arguing that the CIO is not technically authorized to investigate insurrection charges stemming from his martial law decree.