The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, which has reissued an arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol, is continuing to deliberate on the timing of its re-execution. On the 10th, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials at the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Jo Yong-jun
The High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (HCID) has sent official letters to the Ministry of National Defense and the Presidential Security Service requesting their cooperation in executing the second arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol.
The HCID warned that obstructing the execution of arrest or search warrants could result in criminal charges such as obstruction of official duties or abuse of authority, civil liability for damages due to unlawful acts, and disadvantages under the Government Officials Pension Act, urging cooperation in the warrant execution.
On the 13th, the HCID stated, "Last night (the 12th), we sent official letters to the Ministry of National Defense and the Presidential Security Service requesting cooperation in executing the arrest warrant and other related warrants."
In the letter sent to the Ministry of National Defense, the HCID warned that if military personnel dispatched to the Presidential Security Service (such as the 33rd Military Police Unit and the 55th Guard Unit) are mobilized to the warrant execution site or if vehicles and equipment belonging to their units are used to obstruct the execution of the arrest or search warrants issued by the court, the involved personnel and their commanders could face criminal charges including obstruction of official duties, obstruction causing injury, and abuse of authority. Furthermore, if personal or material damages occur during the execution, civil liabilities such as state compensation claims may arise. To prevent such situations, the HCID requested that the Ministry of National Defense take prior measures to ensure that its personnel do not become involved and suffer disadvantages.
Additionally, in the letter sent to six department heads of the Presidential Security Service (including the Director of the Security and Safety Headquarters, the Director of the Security Headquarters, and the Director of the Planning and Management Office), the HCID warned that if members of the Security Service obstruct the lawful execution of warrants, they could face criminal charges such as obstruction of official duties, obstruction causing injury, and abuse of authority; civil liability for damages due to unlawful acts; and disadvantages including loss of government official status, restrictions on reappointment, and limitations on pension receipt under the State Public Officials Act and the Government Officials Pension Act. The HCID requested that the departments thoroughly manage and cooperate to prevent illegal acts such as mobilizing personnel for tasks outside their official duties or providing equipment and facilities.
The HCID also added, "In the case of Security Service employees, even if they do not follow unlawful orders to obstruct warrant execution, they will not suffer any penalties such as charges for dereliction of duty due to non-compliance."
Although the HCID has not disclosed the validity period of the second arrest warrant it obtained, it is expected to proceed with re-execution of the warrant within this week. Ahead of the second arrest warrant execution, the HCID applied for an arrest warrant against Kim Seong-hoon, Deputy Director of the Presidential Security Service, who has ignored three summonses, and also obtained an arrest warrant for Lee Kwang-woo, Director of the Security Headquarters, who received his third summons today. The HCID is expected to prioritize securing their custody on the day of the warrant execution.
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