Investigators from South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) arrived at the residence of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday morning to enforce an arrest warrant, marking an unprecedented moment in the country’s political history, according to a report by Yonhap News Agency.
President Yoon is under investigation for multiple allegations, including leading an insurrection — a grave charge that could result in life imprisonment or the death penalty.
The accusations stem from Yoon’s abrupt declaration of martial law in early December, which plunged the nation into political turmoil.
On Tuesday, a court approved the arrest warrant, making Yoon the first sitting South Korean president to face such an order.
The decision has escalated tensions between investigators and the embattled leader, who was stripped of his presidential powers last month following a parliamentary impeachment vote.
The presidential security team stated that “security measures will be taken in accordance with due process for matters related to the execution of warrants.”
Yoon’s impeachment came after some members of his own ruling party turned against him, citing his refusal to resign in the wake of his contentious decree.
The former prosecutor has ignored three summonses from investigators in recent weeks, refusing to cooperate with the ongoing probes.
Despite mounting legal challenges and an impeachment trial before one of South Korea’s highest courts, Yoon remains defiant. In a rare public statement shared with supporters gathered outside his residence earlier this week, Yoon vowed to “fight to the end” to defend what he described as the country’s interests.
This marked Yoon’s first public comment in weeks, as he had largely retreated from public view amid widespread condemnation of his actions.
