South Korea: Acting President Calls for Calm Amid Arrest of Yoon Suk-yeol
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Seoul, January 8 (NationPress) — In a significant statement, South Korea's Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Wednesday appealed to various government agencies, including the secret service, to ensure that there are no physical confrontations during the arrest of President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is currently secured within his fortified compound.
"Make certain that no harm comes to citizens, and take measures to prevent any unfortunate events, including physical clashes between government agencies under all circumstances," Choi emphasized during a government meeting.
Last Friday, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), which is probing Yoon for alleged insurrection, attempted to execute a court-ordered arrest warrant but retreated after a five-hour standoff with the Presidential Security Service (PSS).
Despite requests from the CIO for the PSS to stand down, Choi has yet to actively use his authority to issue directives.
This week, the PSS fortified Yoon's presidential residence by erecting barbed wire and barricades and deploying buses to obstruct access to the residence in Seoul.
Meanwhile, the CIO has declared its intention to thoroughly execute the warrant, indicating a likely second attempt to detain Yoon.
In the aftermath of the impeachment of both Yoon and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, the primary opposition party, the Democratic Party (DP), has demanded an investigation into Choi, accusing him of neglecting his duties by not taking action.
Additionally, the DP has criticized Choi for his inaction against Park Chong-jun, the head of the PSS, for his involvement in obstructing the CIO's attempts to apprehend Yoon, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.
Earlier today, South Korean police stated they are tracking President Yoon Suk-yeol's whereabouts amid speculations that he may have fled his residence while facing arrest over his brief imposition of martial law.
"We cannot provide specific details about President Yoon's location," a police official informed the Yonhap News Agency. "We are actively monitoring his location."
However, the Presidential office dismissed rumors regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol potentially fleeing his residence amidst ongoing investigations into his short-lived martial law imposition.
