Yoon's security team warns of legal action against investigators for 'trespassing' on presidential residence
Security officers for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol are seen behind vehicles which are used as a barricade to keep state investigators away from entering the president's official residence in Seoul, Jan. 3. Yonhap
The security service team for suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday threatened to take legal action against state investigators, accusing them of unauthorized trespassing on the presidential residence during an hourslong standoff over their attempt to detain Yoon.
The Presidential Security Service (PSS) expressed regret against the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) for its botched attempt to arrest Yoon over his short-lived martial law imposition in early December.
The CIO called off the arrest attempt earlier in the day after a six-hour long standoff with security officials, along with military officers, who blocked the investigators' path at the compound of Yoon's residence.
"It is regrettable that the CIO and the National Office of Investigation broke into the security zone and a military facility without permission by mobilizing a police squad without any legal grounds," the PSS said in a release.
"We will take legal action against those responsible and relevant officials for committing illegal acts," the agency said, vowing to continue to make an "all-out effort" to fulfill its due duties.
Upon suspending the execution of the detention warrant, the CIO expressed "serious regret" over Yoon's defiance, describing the president as a "suspect who refused to comply with legally set procedures" while pledging to decide on further steps.
The CIO said it will demand acting President Choi Sang-mok to order the presidential security team to cooperate on its execution of the detention warrant against Yoon.
"Under the current circumstances, the execution of the warrant is practically impossible. We will strongly demand Choi to instruct the presidential security service to comply with the CIO's move as Choi is in charge of overseeing it," the agency said in a release.
The CIO has until Monday to execute the detention warrant.
Yoon is under probe for inciting an insurrection as he imposed martial law on Dec. 3, which was rejected by the National Assembly hours later.
A Seoul court issued a warrant for Yoon's detention earlier this week after Yoon ignored three summonses to appear for questioning.
On Dec. 14, the parliament voted to impeach Yoon, while Yoon has claimed that it was an act of governing and he will fight to the end.
The Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to determine whether to remove Yoon from office or restore his powers. (Yonhap)