Second suspension of execution of arrest warrant
Yonhap reported that the CIO said it stopped executing the arrest warrant for Yoon Suk Yeol at 1:30 p.m. (local time), about five and a half hours after investigators arrived at the presidential palace. "We determined that executing the warrant would be nearly impossible due to the hours-long standoff between investigators and presidential security personnel, so we suspended the execution of the warrant out of concern for the safety of our personnel," the CIO said in a statement to the press.
The CIO expressed regret over the suspect’s refusal to comply with legal procedures. A CIO official told reporters that investigators had come within 200 meters of the residence but were prevented from getting any closer. More than a dozen cars blocked the road and about 200 people from the Presidential Security Service (PSS) or the military formed several layers of walls, making it impossible for the arrest team of 20 people from the CIO and 80 police to get through.
However, prosecutors met with Yoon Suk Yeol's two lawyers, Yun Gap-geun and Kim Hong-il. The two lawyers reiterated their stance that the president "cannot comply with an order issued by an agency that is not authorized to investigate sedition allegations."
The CIO has until January 6 to execute the arrest warrant against Mr. Yoon. Mr. Yoon faces charges of rebellion and abuse of power related to the martial law he declared on December 3. The charges of rebellion or leading a rebellion carry a sentence of life in prison or the death penalty. The arrest warrant for Mr. Yoon, approved by the court on December 31, is the first time in South Korea’s history that such a measure has been applied to a sitting president.
Yoon Suk Yeol refused to comply with three summonses from the CIO, leading to the CIO deciding to execute the arrest warrant. However, protests by Yoon's supporters outside the presidential palace hindered the process. On January 2, the CIO postponed the execution of the arrest warrant due to the large number of protesters. On January 3, more than 1,000 protesters supporting Yoon continued to gather near the palace. Although about 2,700 police officers were deployed to maintain order, protesters continued to exert pressure, chanting, "Illegal order. Completely invalid" and demanding "arrest the CIO."
As news of the CIO's withdrawal spread, protesters, whose numbers had swelled to 11,000 by police estimates, cheered and shouted, "We won," while chanting the president's name.
Martial law and political consequences
The current crisis was sparked by Mr Yoon’s surprise declaration of martial law late on the night of December 3. He accused opposition lawmakers of “paralysing state affairs” and said the move was necessary to protect “a free South Korea”. However, the order was overturned by the National Assembly, including members of his own party, after just six hours.
Adding to the woes, new allegations about Yoon’s actions during the brief time the order was in effect have made matters worse. According to the indictment by former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, Yoon ordered the military to use force to break down the doors of the National Assembly if necessary to prevent lawmakers from overturning his decision.
Mr Yoon now faces an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court, which will decide whether he is formally removed from office or reinstated. The process could take up to six months.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly also voted to impeach Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck-soo, leaving Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok to temporarily assume the role of national leader.
With crises piling up, South Korea faces a difficult problem: How to stabilize politics and restore people's trust in the government.
