The National Office of Investigation of the Korean National Police Agency says the police are discussing methods for executing the arrest warrant within the framework of the joint investigation unit with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.
SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's anti-corruption investigative agency said Monday that it entrusted the police with the task of executing an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said that it sent an official document on Sunday night to leave the arrest warrant execution to the discretion of the National Office of Investigation (NOI) of the Korean National Police Agency.
THE CIO
The CIO investigators and police officers attempted to arrest the impeached president in the presidential residence on Jan. 3, but they failed as the presidential security service blocked the execution of the arrest warrant that was issued by a Seoul court. The warrant was scheduled to be valid for a week until Monday.
The CIO said that after considering the police's professionalism in executing arrest warrants and the need for a unified command structure at the scene, it had decided to transfer the task of arresting Yoon to the NOI so as to carry out the arrest more quickly and efficiently.
Analysts said the CIO, as an anti-corruption agency, has long been criticized for its relative weakness and lack of tangible achievements, with some even labeling it "ineffective since its establishment."
Meanwhile, the CIO obtained the arrest warrant from the Seoul Western District Court, which was criticized by opponents as bypassing the corresponding authority -- the Seoul Central District Court, calling it a "selective operation." The ruling People Power Party also criticized the CIO's execution of the arrest warrant as an "overreach and inappropriate action."
The CIO said it planned to request the extension of the warrant.
THE POLICE
The police believe the document sent by the CIO requesting the execution of the arrest warrant is legally flawed, and the execution of the warrant should take place within the framework of the joint investigation unit, according to Youn Kun-young, a member of the Public Administration and Security Committee of South Korea's national assembly, after a visit to the NOI.
The joint investigation unit consists of the CIO, the NOI and the defense ministry's investigation headquarters.
According to local media reports, the police's stand implies that the responsibility for executing the arrest warrant lies with CIO prosecutors, with the police playing a supporting role rather than serving as the main executor.
The NOI said Monday afternoon that the police are discussing methods for executing the arrest warrant within the framework of the joint investigation unit with the CIO, adding it is also considering measures to address potential obstruction by personnel from the presidential security service, including options such as arresting security service members who interfere with the execution of the arrest warrant.
WHAT'S NEXT
Regarding the arrest, analysts expect significant resistance and little chance of success in a second attempt.
Park Jong-joon, chief of South Korea's presidential security service, on Sunday vowed to keep blocking the attempt to arrest Yoon.
If the security service, which puts its top priority on the president's absolute safety, complied with the execution of the arrest warrant against Yoon, it would have been a dereliction of duty and an abandonment of presidential security, Park said in a statement.
The CIO said it asked acting President Choi Sang-mok to order the presidential security service for the execution of the arrest warrant.
It was unclear whether the acting president would cooperate.
Local media reported that facilities including barbed wire had been set up and security strengthened at the presidential residence.■