South Korean officials try to arrest President Yoon Sul Yeol: Who’s involved?


Accusing a sitting president of wrongdoing is no easy task, but in South Korea it could be even more difficult due to the vast number of law enforcement agencies.

President Yoon Sul Yeol has already joined the ranks of South Korean presidents impeached by parliament following his ill-fated decision to declare martial law in early December. But as the court considers whether to uphold the impeachment and permanently remove him from power, he also faces multi-fronted criminal investigations into the rebellion.

This is the first time South Korean officials have tried to arrest a sitting president. (Mr. Yoon has been suspended and is confined to his residence, but technically still on duty.) Investigators are negotiating on untrodden ground, and the investigating agencies risk prolonging the country’s political turmoil if they don’t find a way to cooperate.

And there is an agency that is obliged to protect him.

Here is the playground guide.

Experts say that the decision of the Constitutional Court could come as early as February. The court is facing enormous public pressure to quickly decide to help resolve the current political limbo in the country.

No outcome of the court will affect the status of Mr. Yoon in the criminal proceedings, and the court can proceed with or without his presence. But some speculate that the lawyers Mr. Yoona may be hoping that if the court reinstates him, it will be more difficult for investigators to charge him.

The Corruption Investigation Bureau launched a second, long-awaited operation early Wednesday to arrest Mr. Yoon, two days after he asked security personnel not to interfere. In making the demand, the office alternately threatened their state pensions and promised they would face no consequences if they disobeyed “illegal orders” from their superiors – including South Korea’s president.

Photo by Chang W. Lee/The New York Times



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