South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) announced on Monday that it has requested cooperation from the defense ministry and the presidential security service ahead of a second attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.
According to Yonhap, the CIO sent letters to both agencies late Sunday, urging compliance and warning of legal consequences for any failure to cooperate.
In its letter to the defense ministry, the CIO cautioned that soldiers who obstruct the execution of Yoon’s arrest warrants or searches of the presidential residence could face criminal charges or be held liable for damages in cases of harm to persons or property.
A separate letter addressed to the presidential security service issued similar warnings, noting that security personnel who hinder the investigation could lose their public servant status, face restrictions on future employment, and risk losing their pensions.
The CIO assured security service staff that they would not face repercussions for refusing to follow unlawful orders to block the execution of the warrants, Yonhap and NAN reported.