Police, CIO officials hold meeting as 2nd attempt to detain Yoon seen to be imminent

A person stands outside the National Office of Investigation's office in Seoul, Jan. 14. Yonhap

Police and anti-corruption agency officials gathered Tuesday to discuss plans to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, amid indications that investigators may again attempt to take Yoon into custody as early as Wednesday, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Investigators from the National Office of Investigation, police teams in the wider Seoul area and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) met earlier in the day to plan their attempt for Yoon's detention over his short-lived martial law imposition, the sources said.

CIO officials have purchased loudspeakers, batteries for body-worn cameras and other equipment, the sources said.

During the meeting, the officials are said to have discussed measures to secure access to the presidential residence in central Seoul, which has been fortified with barbed wire and barricades using vehicles.

The operation could take place as early as 5 a.m. Wednesday, but the timing may change considering the size of the attempt, which is expected to involve around 1,000 police investigators.

The first attempt to execute the warrant on Jan. 3 failed after investigators were in an hourslong standoff with Yoon's security personnel that blocked them from entering the residence.

Earlier Tuesday, the police and the state anti-corruption agency requested the Presidential Security Service to cooperate in the warrant's execution, but it has yet to respond. (Yonhap)