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The 9 at 9: Thursday
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A supporter of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pictured at a rally opposing his impeachment near the presidential residence in Seoul. Alamy
yoon suk yeol
Arrest deadline looms for South Korea's impeached president as protests continue
South Korean investigators trying to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol said they would seek an extension to an arrest warrant that expires today.
SOUTH KOREAN ANTI-corruption investigators have asked police to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, after he fended off their week-long efforts to bring him into custody over his failed martial law bid.
The former president has refused questioning and holed up in his residence, with a failed arrest attempt last week leaving investigators trying to extend the warrant’s deadline and asking for help.
Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) said they had asked for the police to take over because of the difficulties they had faced. Yoon’s legal team has refuted the CIO’s authority to arrest him.
“The validity of the warrant expires today. We plan to request an extension from the court today,” said CIO deputy director Lee Jae-seung in a briefing to reporters.
He added they would consult police on the timing of the warrant extension. Police have yet to accept the request.
Last Tuesday, a Seoul court issued warrants for Yoon’s detention and for his home to be searched – but enforcing them while he remains inside the residence is complicated.
Dozens of officials failed in their attempt to execute the warrants on Friday when they were forced to retreat after a six-hour standoff with the presidential security service.
Yoon faces prison or at worst the death penalty if convicted for insurrection, over briefly suspending civilian rule and plunging South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades – but both he and his supporters have remained defiant.
“The Presidential Security Service will protect the President, and we will protect the Presidential Security Service till midnight” when the warrant is set to expire, said Kim Soo-yong, 62, one of the protest organisers.
“If they get another warrant, we will come again.”
Under the fog of dawn, dozens of Yoon’s lawmakers from the People Power Party turned up in front of his presidential residence.
Police moved to block roads in anticipation of another day of protests, as dozens for and against Yoon from the previous day braved sub-zero conditions after camping out overnight.
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“I’ve been here longer than the CIO now. It doesn’t make sense why they can’t do it. They need to arrest him immediately,” an anti-Yoon protest organiser said.
Blinken visit
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul early today for talks with several government officials including acting president and finance minister Choi Sang-mok.
Washington’s top diplomat was not scheduled to meet Yoon but held a joint news conference with Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul.
But his focus was shifted away from domestic politics when shortly before the press conference started, North Korea fired what appeared to be an intercontinental ballistic missile into the sea.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has slated January 14 for the start of Yoon’s impeachment trial, which if he does not attend would continue in his absence.
A prosecutors’ report for his former defence minister seen by AFP Sunday showed Yoon ignored the objections of key cabinet ministers before his failed martial law bid, evidence the court may take into account.
It said the country’s then-prime minister, foreign minister and finance minister all expressed reservations about the potential economic and diplomatic fallout in a cabinet meeting on the night of the decision.
The country’s opposition Democratic Party has also called for the dissolution of the security service protecting Yoon.
Yoon’s lawyers have pledged to wage their own legal fight.
His lawyer said Sunday they would file another complaint against the CIO chief.
The president’s legal team “intend to hold those who committed illegal acts strictly accountable under the law,” lawyer Yoon Kab-keun said in a statement.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to determine whether to dismiss Yoon as president or restore his powers.
Former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye never appeared for their impeachment trials.
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