South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) announced on Monday that it had requested the defense ministry and the presidential security service to cooperate in its second attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.
According to Yonhap, the CIO sent letters late Sunday to both agencies, urging cooperation and warning of legal consequences for any obstruction. In its letter to the defense ministry, the CIO stated that soldiers who interfere with the execution of Yoon’s arrest warrants or the search of the presidential residence could face criminal charges or be held liable for damages in case of human or material harm.
A separate letter to the presidential security service carried similar warnings, noting that personnel obstructing the investigation could lose their status as public servants and face restrictions on rehiring or pension benefits. However, the CIO assured security service employees that they would not face penalties for defying illegal orders to block the execution of the warrants.
The CIO emphasized its determination to enforce the warrants, underscoring the potential consequences of noncompliance, Yonhap reported.
