Tue Jan 14 20:57:20 UTC 2025: ## South Korean Investigators Attempt Second Arrest of Impeached President Yoon
**Seoul, South Korea** – South Korean authorities launched a second attempt early Wednesday to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on a corruption warrant. Two vehicles from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) arrived at Yoon’s official residence as thousands of his supporters gathered outside to prevent his detention.
This follows a failed attempt on January 3rd, resulting in a tense standoff with presidential guards. This time, a joint CIO and police force numbering around 1,000 personnel are involved, prepared to detain any guards obstructing the arrest. Enhanced security measures, including barbed wire and bus barricades, have transformed the presidential residence into a fortified compound.
Yoon’s December 3rd imposition of martial law, leading to an unsuccessful attempt to block a parliamentary vote, triggered South Korea’s worst political crisis in decades. If successful, this arrest would make Yoon the first sitting president in South Korean history to be detained. He could be held for up to 48 hours, with investigators needing a new warrant for extended custody.
Yoon’s legal team, claiming his continued presence in the residence, denounces the warrant as illegal. His chief of staff appealed for the arrest to cease, suggesting alternative investigation methods. Meanwhile, Yoon’s impeachment trial commenced Tuesday, though he did not attend, citing safety concerns. Hearings will continue in his absence.
First Piper 