The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials "If Yoon is Arrested, Detained at Seoul Detention Center... Warrant Valid Until January 6"

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivering a public address at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 7th of this month. Photo courtesy of the Presidential Office

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials announced on the 31st that the arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol is valid until the 6th of next month, and if executed, he will be detained at the Seoul Detention Center.

An official from the Corruption Investigation Office stated, "If we secure (President Yoon's) custody, there needs to be a place for detention, which is designated as either the office or a nearby police station," adding, "The detention place is likely to be the Seoul Detention Center." Regarding the charges specified in President Yoon's arrest warrant, they mentioned "leader of insurrection."

Judge Lee Soon-hyung of the Seoul Western District Court, in charge of warrants, issued the arrest warrant for President Yoon on charges of being the leader of insurrection and abuse of authority obstructing the exercise of rights. An official from the Corruption Investigation Office summarized the court's reasons for issuing the warrant as "concerns about not complying with summons without just cause and substantial (reasonable) grounds to suspect the commission of a crime." The period during which the warrant can be executed is until the 6th of next month, a week later.

Meanwhile, this is the first time in constitutional history that an arrest warrant has been issued for a sitting president. President Yoon is accused of attempting to block the National Assembly and detain key figures such as lawmakers and election commission staff, using the military and police to incite a rebellion with the aim of disrupting the constitutional order, based on unconstitutional and illegal martial law and proclamations.