CIO sends Yoon's case to prosecution after failed summonses

GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- The lead agency of the joint team investigating President Yoon Suk Yeol said it was sending the case to the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office after multiple failed attempts to interrogate the detained president. The case was transferred to the prosecution, which holds the sole authority to indict the president, four days after the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials formally arrested the president and eight days after it took him into custody. The

Jan. 23, 2025

Yoon continues to refuse CIO interrogation

While attempting to enforce summons, CIO to transfer case to prosecution GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- Suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol continued to refuse being interrogated by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Wednesday, prompting investigators to explore the option of forcing him to comply with the summons. As in their attempts both Monday and Tuesday, investigators were stymied by Yoon as he refused to submit to questioning once again Wednesday, with his legal

Jan. 22, 2025

CIO’s forced summons raises controversy

GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- Controversy ensued Tuesday over the anti-corruption agency's attempt to force President Yoon Suk Yeol to comply with interrogation on Monday. The president, arrested Sunday, has refused to appear for further questioning. Rep. Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of Yoon’s ruling People Power Party, on Tuesday denounced the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, the lead agency of the joint team investigating the president, saying the agency was crossi

Jan. 21, 2025

CIO resorts to forced summons; Yoon likely to be indicted in early Feb.

Police attempt to raid safe house, PSS office to secure footage of who Yoon met with before, after martial law declaration GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- The lead agency of the joint investigation team probing President Yoon Suk Yeol attempted to forcibly bring him in for questioning Monday afternoon, as he has refused to comply with an investigation on charges of insurrection and abuse of power, despite being detained. The team suspended the efforts at around 9 p.m. as Yoon continued to refuse.

Jan. 20, 2025

President Yoon Suk Yeol formally arrested as criminal trial awaits

Yoon refuses CIO questioning on Sunday; ruling bloc objects to court-issued warrant A criminal trial of President Yoon Suk Yeol on charges related to the martial law debacle looms large, as a South Korean court issued a warrant on Sunday to place him under arrest for up to six months. Forty-seven days after Yoon declared martial law to crack down on his political opponents whom he described as "anti-state forces" -- although no armed conflict with a foreign country had occurred -- the 64-year-ol

Jan. 19, 2025

Court dismisses Yoon's petition, keeps him under detention

CIO likely to seek formal arrest Friday The court late Thursday night dismissed impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s request challenging the detention, effectively maintaining him under custody for an investigation into insurrection charges. The decision by the Seoul Central District Court was made after two hours of deliberation since 5 p.m. for which Yoon’s legal representatives took issue with the legality of the probe led by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials. They

Jan. 17, 2025

Yoon Suk Yeol taken into custody

-Yoon, identified as insurrection leader, is exercising right to remain silent -Yoon is first sitting president taken into custody -Yoon says decided to appear for questioning to prevent ‘bloodshed’ -CIO mulls requesting warrant to extend detention -Massive operation with 1,100 officers ended without physical conflict SEOUL/GWACHEON, Gyeonggi Province -- President Yoon Suk Yeol was detained in a large-scale law enforcement operation at the presidential residence Wednesday, on charges of mastermi

Jan. 15, 2025

War of political extremes leaves centrists at wits' end

Political division in South Korea is nothing new, but the constant clashes between the extreme factions on both right and left, in parliament and even on the streets, has become overwhelming for many ordinary Koreans. "It's happening everywhere," says Lee Soo-hyun, pointing out how people are shouting in defense or condemnation of President Yoon Suk Yeol day and night on the streets. Lee, a cram school teacher in Gangnam-gu, who considers herself a centrist, feels particularly overwhelmed by the

Jan. 15, 2025

[Breaking] President Yoon to appear for questioning by CIO today: lawyer

President Yoon Suk Yeol will appear before the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials today, his lawyer said Wednesday hours after the joint probe team entered the presidential residence in an attempt to detain him. Seok Dong-hyeon, Yoon's lawyer, made a statement on Facebook that the president has made an "unavoidable decision to appear," to prevent a physical clash between the security team and the police, and citizens being injured outside the residence. Seok added that th

Jan. 15, 2025

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol taken into custody over martial law

President Yoon Suk Yeol was taken into custody by a joint probe team at 10:33 a.m. Wednesday, according to police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, 12 days after being repelled in its initial attempt to detain him. Yoon arrived at the CIO headquarters of the CIO in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, for questioning over his martial law declaration in December. Yoon, 64, became the first sitting president in South Korean history to be in custody. In the next 48 hours,

Jan. 15, 2025