Seoul, Jan 3 (EFE).- An operation to arrest South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol over his declaration of martial law was called off on Friday amid safety concerns following an hours-long standoff with security at the leader’s residence in Seoul.
A spokesman for the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) told reporters that the arrest was called off at around 1.30 pm local time (04:30 GMT), after 30 of its staff and 50 police officers were engaged in a standoff for around four hours with the Presidential Security Service (PSS), which refused access to the inside of Yoon’s residence.
“We determined that executing the detention warrant would be practically impossible due to the continued confrontation, and suspended the execution out of concern for the safety of on-site personnel caused by the resistance,” the CIO said in statements reported by Yonhap news agency.
It said further action would now be considered, adding “serious regret over the behavior of the suspect who refused to comply with legally set procedures.”
Investigators from the state anti-corruption agency walk up a slope inside the premises of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official residence to execute a warrant to detain Yoon over his failed bid to impose martial law in December 2024 in Seoul, South Korea, 03 January 2025. EFE/EPA/YONHAP SOUTH KOREA OUT
After entering the compound, then getting past an initial standoff with a military unit believed to belong to the Capital Defense Command (the only unit of the armed forces that answers directly to the head of state), the team confronted the PSS.
PSS chief Park Chong-jun denied their entry to execute the warrants for the arrest and a residence search in relation to Yoon’s decision to declare martial law on Dec. 3, citing restrictions on secure areas, Yonhap reported.
It was not clear whether Yoon was inside the residence at the time.
Some 1,200 Yoon supporters, estimated by police, who had gathered outside the compound celebrated the news with cheers.
The police had deployed a large contingent, including 2,700 officers on the ground near the residence, located in Hannam district of Seoul, to prevent disturbances.
Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol gather as members of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and police officials wait to enter the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, 03 January 2025. EFE/EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN
Observers had expected that the warrant, obtained on Tuesday by investigators after Yoon ignored three summons for questioning, could be carried out Friday, since it expires on Monday and the number of supporters outside the residence is expected to increase over the weekend, complicating operations.
Yoon’s lawyers have requested a court order to annul the warrant, arguing that only the prosecution can request such an arrest, and have insisted that it is “illegal” after learning that the authorities were inside the compound.
In the event of an arrest, the joint team made up of the CIO, the police and the Ministry of National Defense, will have 48 hours to question Yoon and request an extension of his detention if deemed necessary.
Following his impeachment, Yoon is waiting for the Constitutional Court to decide before June whether to reinstate him or permanently dismiss him.
Meanwhile, prosecutors on Friday indicted Chief of Staff General Park An-su, who served as martial law commander, and Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, head of the Special Warfare Command, on charges of insurrection and abuse of power.
The indictments come after both were placed under arrest in December. EFE
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