S. Korean anti-corruption agency seeks police takeover as arrest bid nears expiry

South Korea's anti-corruption agency has requested that police take over efforts to detain impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, after its investigators failed to secure his arrest following a standoff with the presidential security service last week.

Both the agency and police confirmed the request on Monday, just hours before the one-week detention warrant for Yoon was set to expire at midnight (1500 GMT) on Monday.

According to police, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) is likely to request a new court warrant to extend the deadline for Yoon's detention. The police are currently reviewing the agency's request internally. It remains unclear whether the anti-corruption agency will make another attempt to detain Yoon before the midnight deadline.

Yoon became the first incumbent South Korean president to face arrest for his failed attempt to declare martial law on December 3. The Seoul Western District Court issued a warrant last Tuesday to detain Yoon and a separate warrant to search his residence. However, executing those warrants has proven challenging as long as Yoon remains in his official residence.

The chief of security for the impeached Yoon, Park Chong-jun, stated on Sunday that he could not cooperate with efforts to arrest the impeached leader, citing ongoing legal debates surrounding the arrest warrant. Park defended the presidential security service, emphasizing its 60-year role in providing security to all South Korean presidents, regardless of their political affiliation. He also urged against criticism that the service had been reduced to a "private army."

The comments came after a Seoul court rejected a complaint filed by Yoon's lawyers, who argued that the arrest warrant was illegal and invalid. In response, Yoon's legal advisor, Seok Dong-hyeon, expressed concerns on social media, warning that any errors in the legal process against the sitting president could create significant issues for the country.

Yoon's lawyers have argued that the warrant is unconstitutional because the anti-graft agency leading his criminal investigation has no authority under South Korean law to investigate cases involving insurrection charges.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Seoul early Monday for talks with senior officials.

Rallies in heavy snow

The dispute over the warrant unfolded against the backdrop of demonstrations by thousands of protesters near Yoon's official residence, as heavy snow blanketed the capital, Seoul. Some rallies called for his arrest, while others opposed it.

"We have to re-establish the foundation of our society by punishing the president who has denied the constitution," said Yang Kyung-soo, leader of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), a major labor group that joined the protests.

Security officials installed barbed wire inside the compound and set up barricades with buses on Saturday, Yonhap said.

Nearby, Yoon supporters held placards reading, "We will fight for President Yoon Suk-yeol."

Some protesters had gathered overnight in downtown Seoul, where temperatures fell below minus 5 degrees Celsius. More than 6 cm (2.4 inches) of snow has piled up in some areas, prompting a warning.

Similar rallies on Saturday saw police detain two protesters accused of assaulting police officers, Yonhap said.

On the same day, the CIO again called on acting President Choi Sang-mok, the finance minister, to order the security service to comply with the arrest warrant.

A finance ministry spokesperson declined to comment. In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said Choi urged authorities to ensure that no one was harmed during efforts to enforce the law.

(With input from Reuters)