Deposed South Korean President Jun Suk Jeol faces a renewed and potentially more forceful attempt to arrest him for imposing martial law on December 3. On Tuesday, the head of the bureau investigating corruption among top officials (CIO), Oh Dong-woon, announced that this time his forces “will do everything (…) with great determination” and that “the second execution of the order will be the last.” Buses have appeared around Jeol's residence, blocking access to it, and barbed wire can be seen on the walls.
On Wednesday, both supporters and opponents of ousted Jun Suk Jeol organized rallies in the streets around the presidential complex despite low temperatures, after a court in Seoul on Tuesday again issued an arrest warrant for the former South Korean president, Reuters reports.
Jun is under criminal investigation for insurrection with a failed attempt to introduce martial law on December 3. The decision led to the first arrest warrant in South Korea's history for a sitting president. He is also facing an impeachment trial in the Constitutional Tribunal, but attempts to detain the politician have so far failed.
Supporters of the deposed president of South Korea organize a rally near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea (08/01/2025)PAP/EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN
Jun's lawyer denies the “malicious” rumors
Reuters reported that the Presidential Security Service (PSS) this week fortified the presidential compound with barbed wire and barricades, using buses to block access to the residence, a hillside villa in an upscale neighborhood known as Korea's Beverly Hills.
On Wednesday, one of Jun's lawyers said the president could not accept the execution of the arrest warrant because it was issued by a court in the wrong jurisdiction and the office that investigates corruption among top officials (CIO) did not have the authority to investigate the sitting leader.
Lawyer Jun Kap-keun also denied suggestions by some members of parliament that the former president had fled his official residence. He noted that he met the president there on Tuesday. In his opinion, these were “malicious” rumors intended to defame Jun.
Deposed South Korean President Jun Suk Jeol's lawyer, Jun Kap-keun (center), speaks during a press conference in Seoul, South Korea (08/01/2025)PAP/EPA/YONHAP
The second execution of the order “will be the last”?
On Tuesday, CIO chief Oh Dong-woon, who is investigating Jun, apologized for not arresting the president last week after a six-hour standoff with hundreds of PSS agents and military guards at the compound, Reuters reported.
“We will do everything in our power to achieve our goal, preparing carefully this time with great determination to ensure that the second execution of the order will be the last,” Oh told a parliamentary committee. He did not reveal how many days the court gave until the new arrest warrant expires.
Members of parliament called for decisive action to “defeat the presidential guards and troops inside the compound.” The head of the CIO did not oppose this, but refused to talk about the options considered.
Risk of shooting in a potential clash
Shin Yul, a professor at Myongji University who has been following the country's political unrest, said police have extensive experience in tactical operations that are likely to be considered. – They should be able to arrest Jun the second time, because I believe that the entire execution (of the order – editor's note) will be coordinated by the police – he was quoted as saying by Reuters.
However, the professor noted that safety – especially of protesters – should be a top priority due to the risk of shooting in a potential clash. According to a CIO official, during the attempted arrest last week, the number of police and CIO officers outnumbered 200 PSS officers, some of whom carried firearms, as well as soldiers delegated to protect the president.
Main photo source: PAP/EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN