SEOUL—A special counsel team investigating allegations against former First Lady Kim Keon-hee has once again failed to execute an arrest warrant for jailed former President Yoon Suk Yeol. The second attempt to detain Yoon for questioning, which occurred on the morning of August 7, was halted after approximately one hour and fifteen minutes due to his "stubborn refusal" and concerns about potential injury to all parties involved.
The special counsel, tasked with a wide-ranging probe into alleged corruption and election meddling involving the former first couple, has been attempting to question Yoon in connection with allegations that he and his wife improperly influenced candidate nominations for the conservative People Power Party. The latest arrest warrant, which was issued after Yoon repeatedly defied summonses from prosecutors, was set to expire on the day of the second failed attempt.
The special counsel's team arrived at the Seoul Detention Center, where Yoon is already being held on separate charges related to his failed martial law declaration in December, at approximately 8:25 a.m. KST. Investigators attempted to use physical force to execute the warrant, but Yoon's resistance was so strong that the operation was suspended at 9:40 a.m. The special counsel's office stated that the decision was made based on "on-site opinions" that continuing the attempt could lead to injury.
This latest failure follows a similar incident just six days prior, on August 1, when a first attempt to execute the warrant was also unsuccessful. During that attempt, Yoon reportedly resisted by lying on the floor of his prison cell and removing his uniform. At the time, prosecutors refrained from using physical force, but warned that they would be prepared to do so in the next attempt. The Ministry of Justice had also reportedly ordered the detention center to "actively" cooperate with the special counsel's efforts.
The repeated refusal to cooperate has drawn public criticism and intensified the legal and political standoff. As the former president faces trial for insurrection and other charges, his actions are being scrutinized by a public watching to see if the rule of law is applied equally to all, regardless of their past position. The special counsel team may now need to seek a fresh warrant or proceed with the case against Yoon without his in-person testimony.
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