South Korea investigators ask police to arrest Yoon

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean anti-graft investigators asked police Monday to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, after he fended off their week-long efforts to bring him into custody over his failed martial law bid.

The former star prosecutor has refused questioning and defiantly holed up in his residence, with a failed arrest attempt last week leaving investigators trying to extend the warrant's Monday deadline and asking for help.

Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) said they had asked for the police to take over because of the difficulties they had faced. Yoon's legal team has refuted the CIO's authority to arrest him.

"The validity of the warrant expires today. We plan to request an extension from the court today," said CIO deputy director Lee Jae-seung in a briefing to reporters.

He added they would consult police on the timing of the warrant extension. Police have yet to accept the request.

Last week investigators made a U-turn over safety fears following a tense, hours-long standoff with hundreds of security forces.

Yoon faces prison or, at worst, the death penalty if convicted for insurrection over briefly suspending civilian rule and plunging South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades, but both he and his supporters have remained defiant.

"The Presidential Security Service will protect the President, and we will protect the Presidential Security Service till midnight" when the warrant is set to expire, said Kim Soo-yong, 62, one of the protest organisers.

"If they get another warrant, we will come again."

Under the fog of dawn, dozens of Yoon's lawmakers from the People Power Party turned up in front of his presidential residence.

Police moved to block roads in anticipation of another day of protests, as dozens for and against Yoon from the previous day braved sub-zero conditions after camping out overnight.

"I've been here longer than the CIO now. It doesn't make sense why they can't do it. They need to arrest him immediately," said anti-Yoon protest organiser Kim Ah-young, in her 30s.

The initial warrant was issued on the grounds that Yoon has refused to emerge for questioning over his martial law