Police Investigate President Yoon for "Obstruction of Arrest Warrant Execution" Charge

Six Military Officials Referred to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division

The police announced on the 21st that President Yoon Seok-yeol has been booked on charges of obstructing the execution of an arrest warrant in connection with the December 3 emergency martial law situation.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is attending the 10th impeachment trial hearing held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 20th. On the left is lawyer Yoon Gap-geun. 2025.02.20 Photo by Joint Press Corps

According to the Special Investigation Unit of the National Police Agency, President Yoon is booked on charges of obstruction of official duties. However, even if booked as a suspect for this charge, the sitting president cannot be criminally prosecuted due to his official status.

It is reported that President Yoon and Kim Seong-hoon, Deputy Director of the Presidential Security Service, exchanged text messages via the American messenger app 'Signal' during the first execution of the arrest warrant on the 3rd of last month.

On the 12th, the Special Investigation Unit referred six military officials, including Won Cheon-hee, Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency at the Ministry of National Defense, to the High-ranking Officials' Crime Investigation Division (PCC).

The PCC dispatched prosecutors and investigators to Director Won's office and residence in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, to secure materials necessary for the martial law case.

The PCC is examining allegations that Director Won met with Kim Yong-hyun, then Minister of National Defense, and Moon Sang-ho, then Commander of the Defense Intelligence Command, on December 2 of last year, the day before the martial law declaration, to discuss martial law.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.