isolation South Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday fended off an arrest attempt on Friday after an hours-long standoff between investigators with the country's anti-corruption agency and presidential security.
The investigators left the president's official residence after the presidential security service prevented them from entering for nearly six hours due to concerns for their safety.
The agency expressed its “deep regret over the position of the suspect who did not respond to a legal process.”
Yun, who was he? Impeached last month Because of his short-lived declaration of martial law, he defied investigators' attempts to question him for weeks. He has not left his residence since December 12, when he went to the nearby presidential office to make a televised statement to the nation, vowing to fight efforts to oust him.
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks during an interview at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, January 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Apparently frustrated that his policies were being obstructed by the opposition-dominated parliament, Yoon declared martial law on December 3 and sent troops to besiege the area. National Assembly.
Parliament overturned the declaration within hours in a unanimous vote and impeached Yoon on December 14, accusing him of rebellion. Meanwhile, anti-corruption authorities and prosecutors opened separate investigations.
A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon on Tuesday, but its implementation is complicated as long as he remains at his official residence.
Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Bureau for Senior Officials arrive at the gate of the Presidential Residence as supporters of deposed South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol hold a march to oppose the court issuing an arrest warrant for Yoon, in Seoul, South Korea. Friday, January 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
The court issues an arrest warrant for South Korean President Yoon
Yoon's lawyers, who filed an appeal against the arrest order on Thursday, say it cannot be carried out at his residence because of a law that protects sites potentially linked to military secrets from being searched without the consent of the person responsible.
The office said it would discuss further action, but did not immediately say whether it would make another attempt to detain Yoon. His arrest order is valid for one week.
If investigators can To detain YoonThey will likely ask the court to authorize an official arrest. Otherwise, he will be released after 48 hours.
Supporters of ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol hold a march to oppose a court issuing an arrest warrant for Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, January 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
Thousands of Police officers They gathered at Yoon's residence on Friday, forming a perimeter around a growing group of pro-Yeon protesters who braved freezing temperatures for hours, waving South Korean and American flags while chanting pro-Yeon slogans.
There were no immediate reports of major clashes outside the residence.
Nearly five hours after dozens of investigators and police officers were seen entering the gate of the headquarters in Seoul to execute a warrant for Yoon's arrest, the dramatic scene appears to have developed into a confrontation. Two of Yoon's lawyers, Yoon Kab-keun and Kim Hong-il, were seen entering the gate of the presidential residence around noon.
It was not clear whether investigators succeeded in entering the apartment building where Yoon resides, but South Korean television YTN reported scuffles as investigators and police confronted presidential security forces.
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Yoon's presidential powers have been suspended since the National Assembly voted to impeach him on December 14. Yoon's fate now rests with the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. At least six judges on the nine-member Constitutional Court must vote in favor of his removal from office.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
