Police: 'Supreme Prosecutors' Office Hands Over Yoon's Arrest Warrant Execution to Police'

A vehicle carrying investigators from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, who set out to execute the arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol, arrives and waits at the entrance of the Presidential Residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. / Photo by Kim Beom-jun

It has been reported that the Supreme Prosecutors' Office (SPO) has requested the police to take responsibility for executing the arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeol.

According to News1 on the 6th, the SPO sent an official document to the National Investigation Headquarters of the National Police Agency, stating its intention to entrust the execution of President Yoon's arrest warrant to the police. Consequently, the National Investigation Headquarters is internally reviewing the SPO's request.

Additionally, TV Chosun reported, citing a National Investigation Headquarters official, that "the SPO has decided to entrust the execution of the arrest warrant to the police" and "has instructed the police to execute it, promising to extend the arrest warrant period for President Yoon in the future."

The SPO is investigating charges of rebellion and abuse of power. The Joint Investigation Headquarters, formed by the Special Investigation Team of the National Investigation Headquarters and the SPO, has labeled President Yoon as the 'head of the rebellion.' On the 3rd, when the SPO entered the Presidential Residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, it refused the police's request to arrest the heads of the Presidential Security Service who were obstructing President Yoon's arrest.

The arrest warrant issued by the court on the 31st of last month is valid for seven days, until today, and is only effective until midnight. If the SPO attempts a second execution of the arrest warrant, it must proceed early this afternoon. On the 4th, the SPO sent an official document to Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok, who is also the Minister of Economy and Finance, requesting cooperation from the Presidential Security Service, but Acting President Choi has not yet responded.

Jin Young-ki, Hankyung.com reporter young71@hankyung.com