Suppose the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) successfully executes the arrest warrant against South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday. In that case, he will face intense questioning over two days regarding his alleged role as the mastermind behind the controversial emergency martial law declared on December 3.
According to sources within the CIO, Chief Prosecutors Cha Jeong Hyun and Lee Dae Hwan will lead the investigation following Yoon’s arrest. They plan to interrogate him on critical topics, including the declaration of martial law, the lockdown of the National Assembly, the military’s deployment to the National Election Commission, and the arrests of key figures. The prosecutors have reportedly prepared an extensive questionnaire of over 100 pages. All logistics, including interrogation rooms and rest areas, have been set up to accommodate the investigation.
Upon arrest, Yoon will be taken to the CIO headquarters in the Government Complex Gwacheon in Gyeonggi Province, where he will be escorted to a video interrogation room on the third floor. Under South Korean law, the CIO must file for an arrest warrant within 48 hours of detention or release of the President. To gather as much testimony as possible within the allotted time, interrogations are expected to continue into the following day. Typically, detained suspects are held at Seoul Detention Center during breaks in questioning, though it remains unclear whether this standard procedure will apply to Yoon.
Should the court approve the arrest warrant, the CIO will have approximately 10 days to conduct its investigation before the case is transferred to the prosecution, which has the authority to pursue charges. This time frame is critical, as the CIO lacks the legal power to file charges directly.
However, critics are questioning whether the CIO can effectively manage such a high-profile investigation within this tight window with its current staffing levels. The CIO is authorized to employ 25 prosecutors, but only 15 positions are currently filled, including Deputy Chief Prosecutor Lee Jae Seung, a former prosecutor. The agency’s track record has been modest, with the arrest of Moon Sang Ho, the former Intelligence Command chief, being the only major result in the martial law investigation thus far.
A legal expert noted, “It appears the CIO is mobilizing all available resources to ensure the success of this investigation into President Yoon. This will likely address concerns about the agency’s investigative capabilities and track record.”