The article discusses the issuance of a second arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol and the related actions taken by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO). The CIO has sent official documents to the Presidential Security Service and the Ministry of National Defense, indicating that obstructing the execution of the arrest warrant could lead to criminal charges. These documents were sent on the night of the 12th, with specific warnings about potential legal consequences for interference and a request for cooperation. They also highlight possible civil liabilities, such as claims for state compensation if there is damage during the execution process.
Additionally, the documents specify potential charges that could be applied in cases of obstruction, including “obstruction of justice by special officials,” “obstruction causing injury by special officials,” and “abuse of authority.” The CIO has requested the Presidential Security Service to ensure their members do not suffer from repercussions and reassured them that they would not face disadvantages for not following illegal orders to block the warrant execution.
Furthermore, the CIO has cautioned that Security Service staff, mainly comprising public officials, could face disadvantages related to their status and pension if they obstructed the warrant execution. The Ministry of Defense received a similar warning document, emphasizing the legal responsibility that could befall military personnel involved in obstructing the arrest. This document particularly mentioned soldiers from the 33 Military Police Brigade and the 55th Guards Regiment who might be deployed or use military equipment in the process.
This situation follows a previous attempt by the CIO on January 3 to execute the arrest warrant at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong. This attempt was thwarted by the Presidential Security Service, which included soldiers from the Capital Defense Command’s 55th Guards Regiment. At that time, the Deputy Minister of National Defense, acting as the Minister, communicated that deploying military forces to block the CIO’s warrant execution was not appropriate.