The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Unit (HCIC) attempted to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol on the 3rd but was blocked by the Presidential Security Service and others, resulting in failure. President Yoon's side protested, claiming that the HCIC's arrest attempt was illegal.
On the 3rd, at the presidential residence premises in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Agency attempted to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, police forces and investigators from the agency are descending. Photo by Yonhap News
At around 1:36 p.m. that day, the HCIC announced through a press release, "Due to the ongoing standoff, we have determined that it is practically impossible to execute the arrest warrant, and concerns for the safety of personnel at the scene due to obstruction led us to halt the execution around 1:30 p.m." They added, "Future measures will be decided after review," and expressed "deep regret over the suspect's attitude of not complying with legal procedures."
The HCIC arrived near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, at around 7:30 a.m. that day and began attempting to enter the residence around 8 a.m. However, they were blocked by the Security Service and others, and after more than five hours of standoff, they appear to have withdrawn from the scene.
The validity period of the arrest warrant for President Yoon is until midnight on the 6th.
On the morning of the 3rd, as officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) entered the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, police were stationed in multiple layers guarding the main gate of the residence, with CIO vehicles parked in front. Photo by Heo Young-han
President Yoon's side repeatedly asserted that the HCIC does not have investigative authority over the crime of insurrection and expressed mutual regret. Immediately after news of the HCIC's suspension of execution was reported, Yoon Gap-geun, a lawyer representing President Yoon, issued a press release stating, "We deeply regret that the HCIC, which lacks investigative authority over the crime of insurrection, forcibly attempted to execute an illegal and invalid arrest and search warrant at a Level 1 military secret protection facility and security zone by mobilizing riot police forces and using physical force." He added, "The active involvement of riot police forces, whose primary duty is security, in executing investigative warrants constitutes intrusion into a Level 1 military secret protection facility, obstruction of official duties, and attempted illegal arrest and detention, and we strongly warn against this." He further stated, "We strongly demand that the HCIC, as a national investigative agency, comply with the law in carrying out its duties."
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