South Korea's police booked President Yoon Suk-yeol for obstructing the execution of a warrant to arrest him, multiple media outlets said Friday.

The police were quoted as saying that its special investigative unit had booked and investigated Yoon over the suspicion of obstructing his arrest warrant execution.

The police seized text messages between Yoon and Kim Seong-hoon, the presidential security service's deputy chief, in which Yoon reportedly instructed Kim to block investigators' attempt to arrest him in the presidential residence.

The messages were exchanged on Jan. 3 when investigators failed to apprehend him, and on Jan. 7 when Yoon allegedly gave Kim instructions to block the second arrest attempt.

Yoon was arrested on Jan. 15 and was indicted under detention on Jan. 26 as a suspected ringleader of insurrection.

Yoon attended the first preparatory hearing of his criminal trial on Thursday, becoming the first incumbent president to stand criminal trial.

If convicted of the insurrection ringleader, Yoon could face the death penalty or life imprisonment.

The 11th and final hearing of Yoon's impeachment trial was scheduled for Feb. 25 over his martial law imposition.

Yoon declared an emergency martial law on the night of Dec. 3, 2024, but it was repealed by the opposition-led National Assembly hours later. 

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