The Peninsula

South Korea's Continuing Turmoil: A Timeline

Contributors (last name alphabetical): Je Heon (James) Kim, Joo Young Kim

This timeline is the third part of a series that covers major events in the aftermath of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024. This part covers the events from the request by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) for an arrest warrant for President Yoon to his arrest. The timeline will periodically update in reverse chronological order with brief descriptions and sources linked to each event. Time stamps follow Korea Standard Time.

Methodology: By “major events,” we mean select events covered under breaking news headlines by Yonhap News Agency. The time stamps correspond to the timed posting of the breaking news. Multiple breaking news headlines related to the same event are aggregated into the earliest time stamp for that event.

 

January 15, 2025

11:00 – CIO begins its first interrogation of President Yoon.

10:33 – CIO investigators arrest President Yoon, serving as the first warrant enforced for a sitting president in Korean history and putting to rest reports that Yoon’s defense team was negotiating for Yoon to voluntarily cooperate with the investigation to avoid his arrest. President Yoon releases a recorded personal message explaining his decision to comply with the arrest warrant despite his objections.

08:24 – CIO and police investigators clear the third security barrier, approaching the presidential residence building.

07:48 – CIO and police investigators clear the second security barrier.

07:34 – CIO and police investigators clear the first security barrier.

07:31 – Police personnel use ladders to scale the vehicular obstructions set up by the PSS and gain entry into the presidential compound.

05:47 – CIO and police personnel attempt to enter the presidential compound but are resisted by protesters blocking their entry. One protestor is injured and transported to the hospital. The police clear the protestors from the entrance.

05:26 – The police deploy 3,000 personnel to the gates of the presidential residence to secure entry for investigators. CIO and police investigators warn that any obstructors will be arrested on site.

04:39 – Approximately 6,500 supporters of the president gather in front of the presidential residence to protest the arrest. PPP lawmakers also arrive to lodge their complaints and form a human chain to obstruct the arrest.

04:28 – CIO investigators arrive at the gates of the presidential residence, signaling the beginning of the CIO’s second attempt to arrest the president. Police personnel join their ranks soon after.

—

January 14, 2025

14:03 – The Constitutional Court dismisses the request for the disqualification of Justice Jeong Gye-seon in President Yoon’s impeachment trial. The court also overrules the objections of Yoon’s defense team regarding the designation of the trial dates. The first day of the trial ends in four minutes as President Yoon opts not to appear for the trial.

—

January 13, 2025

18:05 – President Yoon’s defense team requests the exclusion of Justice Jeong Gye-seon from the Constitutional Court’s trial. They also raise objections to the start date of the impeachment trial scheduled for January 14 and the securing of investigation records.

—

January 11, 2025

23:27 – Former Presidential Security Chief Park Jong-jun completes 14 hours of police interrogation and questioning.

14:04 – Presidential Security Service Division Head Lee Jin-ha appears for police questioning, serving as the second high-ranking official on the presidential security detail to do so.

00:05 – National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan states that “the declaration of martial law in early December was shocking… and it was wrong… but the U.S.-ROK alliance is incredibly healthy.”

—

January 10, 2025

23:13 – Former Presidential Security Chief Park Jong-jun completes 13 hours of police interrogation and questioning.

16:46 – Acting President Choi accepts the resignation of the presidential security chief.

16:30 – Education Minister Lee Ju-ho issues a statement that the “emergency decree on the medical sector contradicts government policy and that he expresses regret and sympathy.”

16:24 – Presidential Security Chief Park Jong-jun submits his resignation to Acting President Choi before appearing for police questioning.

—

January 9, 2025

21:58 – During a National Assembly Q&A, Secretary General of the Constitutional Court Kim Jeong-won states that at least one provision in the martial law decree was unconstitutional. Representative Han Jeong-ae of the Democratic Party asks whether “Proclamation No. 1 of the martial law decree, which prohibits all political activities, including the activities of the National Assembly, local assemblies, and political parties, as well as political associations, rallies, and demonstrations” conformed to the South Korean Constitution. Kim initially responded, “It would be difficult to implement it as is under normal circumstances. That part (whether unconstitutional or not) is under review.” When Han asked again, Kim responded, “It does not conform to the current Constitution.”

11:58 – Ruling and opposition parties hold a national policy consultation meeting with Acting President Choi, Speaker of the National Assembly Woo Won-shik, former Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, and opposition leader Lee Jae-myung. The ruling party proposed a discussion of the bill on livelihood, while the opposition party wanted to discuss the preparation of a supplementary budget bill.

—

January 8, 2025

14:45 – President Yoon’s legal representatives attempt to submit a legal representation notice at the Corruption Investigation Office but are denied entry. 

—

January 7, 2025

19:11 – The Seoul Western District Court reissues and extends President Yoon’s arrest warrant. Prosecutors applied to extend the validity of President Yoon’s arrest warrant to the district court when it expired on January 5. The court promptly moved to extend its deadline.

14:43 – The police issue a third summon for the Presidential Security Chief’s appearance on January 10 after repeated no-shows.

14:11 – President Yoon’s legal team states that “with insurrection charge withdrawn, 80 percent of the grounds for prosecution have been removed and the case should be dismissed.” President Yoon’s lawyers argued that the exclusion of the crime of insurrection under the criminal law, which took up a large part of the impeachment motion, is grounds for dismissal of the impeachment motion.

—

January 6, 2025

18:42 – The Special Investigation Headquarters requests an extension of President Yoon’s arrest warrant from the Western District Court.

15:46 – The Corruption Investigation Office pledges to “work closely with the police under the Special Investigation Headquarters to ensure the execution of the warrant” and that they “share the view… that legal clarity is essential.”

14:24 – The police confirm that they agreed to proceed with the arrest warrant execution under the guidance of the Special Investigation Headquarters and that the CIO may have moved too hastily by sending “an official document regarding the warrant execution before discussions were finalized.” When the police moved to execute the warrant, the Presidential Security Service mobilized military personnel to establish an arrest obstruction line. The police also confirmed that work is underway for Presidential Security Chief Jeong Jin-seok’s summon for questioning and interrogation. The police also signaled that there will be a second attempt to execute the warrant and that they “will consider arresting obstructing security personnel.”

14:06 – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in South Korea to meet with his counterpart Cho Tae-yul and Acting President Choi. During a press conference with Minister Cho, Secretary Blinken expresses “serious concerns about some of the actions that President Yoon took.” However, he says that the Biden administration has “tremendous confidence in the resilience of South Korea’s democracy, in the strength of its institutions, and in the efforts that it’s making to work through those institutions, pursuant to the constitution and the rule of law, to resolve differences and to do so peacefully.”

14:03 – Public Relations Officer for the Constitutional Court, Cheon Jae-hyun, states, “There is no explicit regulation on changing the grounds for impeachment; therefore, this is a matter for judicial deliberation.” He further adds that the court “never advised the National Assembly to remove the insurrection charge against President Yoon.” The court schedules five hearing dates from January 14 to February 4 and is also scheduled to hold a hearing on January 22 about the constitutional authority of the interim government to appoint only two out of three candidates for the Constitutional Court.

14:00 – During a press conference, Deputy Chief of the National Police’s Special Investigation Team Baek Dong-heum states that the police are “continuing discussions with CIO” and that they will do their “best to execute the arrest warrant.” The police, however, question the legal basis for the CIO’s official document delegating Yoon’s arrest to law enforcement.

08:32 – Lee Jae-seung, deputy commissioner of the Public Prosecutor’s Office, meets with reporters at the Public Prosecutor’s Office building in Gwacheon and says that the CIO “will apply for an extension of President Yoon’s arrest warrant” and that the “execution of the warrant can be delegated to the police.”  

—

January 5, 2025

16:12 – President Yoon’s legal team announces that it will consider appealing the Western District Court’s decision to the Supreme Court after their objection to the arrest warrant was dismissed.

14:43 – The Seoul Western District Court dismisses the Yoon legal team’s objection to the execution of the arrest warrant. 

—

January 4, 2025

17:33 – A large-scale rally near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong forces Seoul Metro operators to have the subway line skip the Hangangjin Station. Although both protesters who support and oppose impeachment are reported to have participated, there are no reports of significant violence.

17:11 – The police issue a second summons to Chief of Security Service Park Jong-jun and Deputy Chief of Security Service Kim Seong-hun to appear for questioning on January 7 and January 8, respectively.

17:07 – The CIO requests Acting President Choi to instruct the Presidential Security Service to cooperate with the warrant execution.

—

January 3, 2025

17:13 – The Constitutional Court schedules five impeachment trial hearings, with sessions held twice a week. The dates are as follows: 1) January 14; 2) January 16; 3) January 21; 4) January 23; 5) February 4. The arguments will be held twice a week.

16:12 – The United States and South Korea agree to hold a foreign ministerial meeting in Seoul on January 6 to discuss alliance issues and North Korea.

15:03 – The Special Investigation Headquarters charges the presidential security chief and deputy chief with obstruction of official duties, summoning them for questioning.

14:41 – The CIO issues a statement to explain their reasons for failing to execute the arrest warrant for President Yoon. One problem appears to have been the Presidential Security Service, which was armed with personal firearms. Although no weapons were fired, the CIO “faced multiple physical confrontations while attempting to enter the presidential residence.” They came within 200 meters of the presidential residence, but 200 military personnel formed a barrier, and it was unclear whether President Yoon was inside his residence.

14:05 – Police buses withdraw from CIO headquarters in Gwacheon, and exit restrictions are lifted.

13:58 – CIO withdraws from the presidential residence after deciding to halt the execution of President Yoon’s arrest warrant.

13:37 – The CIO determines that executing President Yoon’s arrest warrant is impossible, halting the execution.

10:11 – The Special Investigation Headquarters presents an arrest warrant to the presidential security chief, but the security chief refuses the search.

09:55 – The CIO breaks through the second security barrier, now in a standoff with the Presidential Security Service in front of the residence. The CIO breaches the military security blockade near the presidential residence and begins a close confrontation with security forces.

09:36 – The police deploy additional personnel inside the presidential residence for the execution of the arrest warrant.

09:05 – The CIO deploys 30 officers, and the police mobilize 120 officers for the execution of the arrest warrant at Yoon’s residence.  

08:24 – The police establish a double-layered barricade with buses at the CIO headquarters in Gwacheon, preparing for a potential investigation.

08:05 – The CIO states that the “execution of President Yoon’s arrest warrant has begun.”

08:03 – CIO investigators exit vehicles and proceed on foot toward the presidential residence. The CIO enters the presidential residence, attempting to execute the arrest warrant.

07:44 – The CIO is unable to enter the presidential residence due to a minibus blockade.

07:38 – The police deploy 45 riot units and over 2,700 officers in front of the presidential residence. 

07:24 – The CIO arrives in front of the presidential residence and notes the arrest warrant execution is imminent.

07:12 – Roadblocks are set up on Hannam-daero as arrest attempt nears, while over 3,000 riot police are deployed.

06:14 – The CIO departs from its headquarters in Gwacheon to execute President Yoon’s arrest warrant.

—

January 2, 2025

18:19 – President Yoon’s legal team files an objection to the arrest and search warrant with the Seoul Western District Court.  

16:44 – The police begin forcibly dispersing pro-Yoon protesters obstructing the arrest attempt.

14:02 – The Constitutional Court Public Relations Officer Cheon Je-hyun states during a regular briefing that the two “newly appointed judges will immediately participate in reviewing cases,” with eight of the nine court benches being filled. Cheon also reiterates that the court would like to have the one remaining vacancy be filled as soon as possible.

—

December 31, 2024

09:27 – The Seoul Western District Court issues an arrest warrant for President Yoon, the first warrant issued for a sitting president in Korean history.

—

December 30, 2024

10:32 – The CIO submits a request for an arrest warrant for President Yoon, the first warrant requested for a sitting president in Korean history.

—

December 29, 2024

18:09 – President Yoon fails to respond to the third summons by the CIO.

—

Dr. Je Heon (James) Kim is Director of Public Opinion and External Relations at the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI). Joo Young Kim is an Independent Contractor at KEI. The views expressed here are the authors’ alone.

Photo from Shutterstock.

KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.