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CIO suspends warrant execution amid standoff with Yoon's security
Presidential Security Service chief, others, summoned as suspects on Saturday over suspicions of obstructing warrant execution GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials said Friday that it has withdrawn from the presidential residence due to safety concerns, explaining its staff was outnumbered by Presidential Security Service personnel. "We were able to approach almost 200 meters away from the presidential residence, but approximately 200 Pres
Jan. 3, 2025 -
Why are Yoon's supporters waving American flags?
As President Yoon Suk Yeol faced arrest Friday morning following his failed martial law attempt a month earlier, protesters rallying in his support drew global attention -- not just for their fiery chants, but for their prominent display of the American stars and stripes alongside South Korea’s Taegeukgi. As perplexing it may be to some, to many conservative supporters in South Korea the American flag has long served as a powerful emblem of anti-communism and the country’s enduring alliance with
Jan. 3, 2025 -
Ruling party lawmaker shows up at Yoon residence to block president’s arrest
A ruling People Power Party lawmaker went to the residence of President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday morning in an apparent bid to stop law enforcement attempts to detain the suspended president in a martial law investigation. Five-time People Power Party Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun was at the presidential residence in Yongsan, central Seoul, as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials tried to detain the president on Friday morning. The lawmaker did not discuss his plans for visiting t
Jan. 3, 2025 -
Army chief, special warfare commander indicted in martial law probe
Prosecutors on Friday indicted the top commander of the Army and the head of its special warfare unit over their alleged roles in the short-lived imposition of martial law last month. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su, who served as martial law commander, and Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, chief of the Army Special Warfare Command, were indicted under detention on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, according to the prosecution. Park issued the martial law decree under his name on Dec. 3, wh
Jan. 3, 2025 -
Yoon's supporters gather near presidential residence; 2,700 police personnel deployed
More than 1,000 supporters of President Yoon Suk Yeol gathered near the presidential residence on Friday as investigators attempted to detain the impeached president, prompting the police to deploy some 2,700 personnel to prevent potential clashes. As of 9:30 a.m., around 1,200 supporters had gathered outside the compound in central Seoul as officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials were in a standoff with security personnel at the residence in their attempt,
Jan. 3, 2025 -
Embattled president claims attempts to detain him illegal, amid standoff
President Yoon Suk Yeol called the attempt to detain him on charges of insurrection and power abuse illegal, as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials tried to execute an arrest warrant against him at his residence in Seoul Friday morning. Yoon, for whom a Seoul court issued an arrest warrant on Dec. 31, claimed via his legal representatives that the arrest warrant is illegal and should be nullified. He vowed to take legal action against what he said was an unlawful arres
Jan. 3, 2025 -
Yoon's lawyer vows to take legal action over 'illegal' execution of warrant to detain impeached president
A lawyer for President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Friday to take legal action over what he called the "illegal" and "invalid" execution of a warrant by investigators to detain the impeached president. Investigators entered the presidential residence earlier in the day to detain Yoon over his failed imposition of martial law last month but have been blocked by troops inside. "The execution of a warrant that is illegal and invalid is not lawful," Yun Gap-geun, one of Yoon's legal representatives, told Yo
Jan. 3, 2025 -
Court to hold 2nd preparatory hearing for Yoon's impeachment trial
The Constitutional Court is set to hold a second preparatory hearing Friday for President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment trial. During the first preparatory hearing last Friday, legal representatives for both Yoon and the National Assembly were in attendance to discuss how the trial will proceed. Lawyers for Yoon, however, had refused to state a detailed position on the case, claiming they had yet to complete a review of the grounds for impeachment outlined in a motion passed by the opposition-cont
Jan. 3, 2025 -
Standoff continues for hours as investigative body attempts to take Yoon Suk Yeol into custody
The standoff between investigators and the Presidential Security Service persisted for hours on Friday, as officials attempted to access President Yoon Suk Yeol's official residential building to detain him on suspicion of insurrection. The investigators were also involved in a standoff with armed forces controlled by the Presidential Security Services, not the military, who were blocking their entry to the official residence. However, the investigators managed to reach the residence building, w
Jan. 3, 2025 -
Ruling party questions legality of Yoon’s arrest warrant
The ruling People Power Party on Thursday questioned the legality of the search and arrest warrant issued for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, who could become the first sitting president to be detained. The warrant to arrest Yoon, which was issued by a Seoul court judge Tuesday, granted an exception to the criminal procedure law that bars access to or searches of high-level military or public offices without their consent. Some former judges in the People Power Party slammed the warrant as po
Jan. 2, 2025 -
Acting president orders immediate stop to abuse directed at grieving families
Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Thursday ordered law enforcement to take action on any cases of defamation targeting families and the victims of Sunday's catastrophic plane crash in Muan, South Jeolla Province. Choi ordered police to monitor defamatory remarks online and "take stern actions" against such activities at a meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters in Seoul on Thursday. The failed landing of the Boeing 737-800 killed 179 of the passengers and crew Sund
Jan. 2, 2025 -
Acting President Choi stresses role of public officials amid 'unprecedented' difficulties
Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Thursday emphasized the critical role of public officials in facing what he described as an "unprecedentedly grave situation." Choi made the remarks during a government ceremony marking the first trading day of the year, just one week after he assumed interim leadership. "Although the new year has begun, the Republic of Korea is facing an unprecedentedly severe situation," Choi said, referring to South Korea by its official name. "As the country faces challenges
Jan. 2, 2025 -
Defiant Yoon vows to fight arrest 'until the end'
Embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday evening told his supporters that he would "fight alongside you until the end to protect this country," in an apparent defiance to the investigators' pledge to take him in custody earlier in the day. "I thank you all for gathering in such large numbers to protect the free democracy and Constitutional order of this country. ... I'm watching your efforts through live broadcast on YouTube," Yoon said in a written message delivered to his supporters hold
Jan. 2, 2025 -
Investigators likely to execute warrant to detain Yoon as early as Thursday
The state anti-corruption agency is likely to proceed with a warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol as early as Thursday after a Seoul court granted the warrant over his brief imposition of martial law. The Seoul Western District Court issued the warrant against Yoon on Tuesday on charges of masterminding the short-lived Dec. 3 martial law declaration and abusing his power. Yoon has become the first sitting South Korean president to face arrest. Since the warrant was issued, the Cor
Jan. 2, 2025 -
Ruling party calls for stability; opposition for change
Heading into the new year, South Korea’s ruling People Power Party apologized over the political mess caused by now-suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol’s botched attempt to impose martial law last month. Rep. Kwon Young-se, who took over Monday as the People Power Party’s interim chair in yet another leadership shake-up, said Wednesday he was “deeply sorry to the South Korean people for the state of things” in his first message of 2025. Kwon said the People Power Party was committed to “stabilizin
Jan. 1, 2025