Authorities investigating the suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol arrived at his residence on Wednesday for a second attempt to detain him due to his controversial martial law declaration last month.
According to Reuters, police deployed approximately 3,200 officers to the president’s sprawling estate in Seoul, where he has remained in hiding surrounded by a personal security detail.
Video footage captures officers closing in on Yoon’s residence, as reported by Reuters, where hundreds of his supporters had gathered to protest in his favor. Earlier, these supporters were seen clashing with police.
SOUTH KOREA’S IMPEACHED PRESIDENT AVOIDS ARREST ATTEMPT AFTER HOURS-LONG STANDOFF
A previous attempt to detain Yoon was aborted on January 3 after a six-hour standoff between military guards and the president’s security personnel.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok emphasized the need to prevent physical conflict between state agencies, stating, “I will hold accountable those responsible if unfortunate events occur.”
Executing an arrest warrant for Yoon poses challenges for investigators, as his legal team argues that it is unfeasible under legislation prohibiting non-consensual searches of locations potentially tied to military secrets.
Yoon’s lawyers have also criticized the warrant as an unlawful tactic aimed at publicly humiliating him.
ARREST WARRANT ISSUED FOR IMPEACHED SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT AS POLITICAL CRISIS DEEPENS
This arrest warrant is a historic first against a sitting South Korean president. It arises from Yoon’s martial law declaration on December 3, driven by frustration over the opposition-dominated parliament’s refusal to advance key components of his political agenda.
The declaration was met with widespread condemnation within South Korea and internationally, with analysts expressing disbelief at such an unprecedented move in what is typically regarded as one of Asia’s most stable democracies.
Parliament unanimously rejected Yoon’s declaration, subsequently suspending him on December 14 with a 204-85 vote that included members from his own party.
Yoon could face formal impeachment if the Constitutional Court upholds the motion with a three-fourths majority.
The court’s next hearing is slated for Thursday.
