(Live Updates) S. Korean investigators attempt to arrest President Yoon Suk-yeol, standoff at presidential residence

South Korean politics reached a historic turning point as the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) attempted to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol at his official residence in Seoul. The arrest follows a warrant issued by the Seoul Western District Court on Dec. 31, 2024, accusing Yoon of rebellion and abuse of power. This marks the first time in South Korea's constitutional history that an arrest warrant has been issued for a sitting president. The warrant is valid until Jan. 6, 2025.

According to CCTV News, CIO officials began their operation early this morning (Jan. 3), with a convoy of five vehicles departing from their headquarters at 6:14 a.m. The officials entered the presidential residence at 7:05 a.m., breaching the first and second security perimeters by 9:08 a.m. A heated standoff ensued between the investigators and the Presidential Security Service guards, who are tasked with protecting the residence.

Key Developments:

• 1:30 p.m.: The CIO announced that it ceased its attempt to execute the arrest warrant for Yoon Suk-yeol at 1:30 p.m. local time on Jan. 3. The CIO stated that due to the prolonged standoff, it had determined that the warrant could not be enforced. It also expressed deep regret over Yoon's refusal to cooperate with legal proceedings. 
• 11:04 a.m.: A team of lawyers for suspended President Yoon Seok-yeol entered the presidential residence.

• 10:46 a.m.: The Constitutional Court announced it will hold its second preparatory hearing on President Yoon's impeachment case this afternoon. Yoon's legal team has submitted a defense statement, and its details are expected to be revealed during the hearing. Yoon is not required to attend the preparatory hearing.

• 10:10 a.m.: The Constitutional Court requested Yoon's legal team to submit the impeachment trial defense statement by the morning of Jan. 3. The court plans to hold its first full judges' meeting on the impeachment case on Jan. 6, with all eight constitutional judges now in place following two appointments by Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Dec. 31.

• 9:53 a.m.: South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed the security forces involved in the standoff are part of the Presidential Security Service.
• 9:12 a.m.: The "Joint Investigation Headquarters," comprised of police and CIO personnel, presented the arrest warrant to the head of the Presidential Security Service.
• 9:08 a.m.: CIO officials broke through the first and second blocking lines inside the presidential residence and confronted the guards in front of the residence building.
• 8:17 a.m.: Yoon's lawyer, Yoon Kap-keun, denounced the arrest attempt as illegal, stating that the warrant is invalid and the CIO's actions violate ongoing legal procedures. 

• 7:05 a.m.: Investigators from the CIO have entered the presidential residence to begin an attempt to arrest Yoon.
• 6:14 a.m.: CIO investigators departed from their headquarters, heading toward the presidential residence in Seoul, to execute the arrest warrant.

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