S. Korean court issues warrant to arrest acting chief of presidential security service

SEOUL -- A South Korean court issued a warrant to arrest the acting chief of the presidential security service who blocked an attempt earlier this month to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, multiple media outlets said Tuesday.

The arrest warrant against the acting presidential security chief was issued on Monday by the Seoul Western District Court on the charge of obstructing the execution of special public affairs.

The acting chief rejected police calls three times to appear for questioning over the charge.

Investigators attempted to arrest Yoon in the presidential residence on Jan 3, but it failed as the presidential security service blocked the execution of the arrest warrant.

A Seoul court granted the extension of the warrant to apprehend Yoon on Jan 7 by issuing the second warrant against the impeached president.

An impeachment motion against Yoon was passed by the National Assembly on Dec 14 last year and delivered to the constitutional court to deliberate it for up to 180 days, during which Yoon's presidential power is suspended.

Yoon, who was named by investigative agencies as a suspected ringleader on an insurrection charge, declared a martial law on the night of Dec 3 but it was revoked by the National Assembly hours later.