Live from Seoul Detention Center: CIO stands firm on investigating Yoon despite impeachment hearings

We move now to the Seoul Detention Center for the latest regarding the investigation into the president's abuse of office.

For this Arirang's Moon Hye-ryeon joins us live.

Hye-ryeon welcome.

Let's start with the attempt back on Monday by anti-corruption investigators to take the president to their headquarters for questioning.

Yes, Sunny, so after they failed to take Yoon in for questioning yesterday from the Seoul Detention Center where I stand now, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials announced that it would not attempt to do so Tuesday morning – considering his scheduled appearance at the Constitutional Court for impeachment hearings.

During a briefing with reporters, a CIO official stated that there is a possibility that a forced summons attempt could be made after the hearing concludes – but did not confirm any specific plans.

This comes following a six-hour standoff with six CIO prosecutors and investigators who visited the Seoul Detention Center at 3 PM to forcibly take President Yoon in for questioning – but the CIO eventually withdrew as Yoon refused to cooperate, and resistance from the president's legal team.

The CIO official emphasized the need to conduct a face-to-face questioning, emphasizing that while President Yoon may be the sitting president, he is also a suspect and that investigating suspects is a fundamental duty of law enforcement.

As the Constitutional Court plans to hold impeachment hearings twice a week and Yoon's stated intention is to attend these sessions and prepare arguments with his defense team, there has been speculation that he may continue to avoid cooperating with the CIO investigation.

The CIO has not ruled out conducting on-site investigations at the detention center, as seen in cases involving former presidents in similar circumstances, but they are currently not considering conducting investigations in written form.

And what has been the response from the president's team thus far?

So in a social media post this morning, one of Yoon's lawyers criticized the CIO's attempts to bring Yoon in for questioning and emphasized that he would take steps during his meeting with President Yoon this morning to prevent any improper forced summons by the CIO.

Yoon's legal team has also strongly criticized the CIO for prohibiting visits for the detained president for anyone other than his legal representatives – arguing that restricting family meetings unrelated to the charges of insurrection is a "vindictive" act rather than a legitimate investigative measure, and have demanded the immediate revocation of such a decision.

The CIO has also decided to ban Yoon from sending or receiving correspondence.

The CIO has cited concerns over potential evidence tampering as a reason for imposing these restrictions, but Yoon's attorney said that these allegations are "baseless and unjust."

Meanwhile what's the latest regarding the rioters who staged a violent protest in the early hours of Sunday at the Seoul Western District Court?

Following the violent intrusion into the Seoul Western District Court in protest of the arrest warrant being issued for President Yoon, all those detained during the incident are now facing possible arrest.

The Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office reportedly filed arrest warrants the previous day for 46 individuals who were apprehended for storming the courthouse and damaging property.

An additional 17 individuals who blocked vehicles belonging to the CIO, assaulted police officers, and trespassed over the court's walls are also facing warrants – bringing the total to 63.

Police had earlier requested arrest warrants for 66 out of the 90 individuals detained, but prosecutors rejected three of those requests citing the need for further investigation in certain cases.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the protests and have pledged to hold all responsible parties accountable.

That's all I have for now, but I'll be back in our later newscast.

Back to you, Sunny.

All right Hye-ryeon thank you for that coverage.

That was our Moon Hye-ryeon with the latest on the investigation led by the anti-graft office.