News
South Korean investigators try to arrest president Yoon Suk Yeol, withdraw after 5-hour impasse
The attempt was halted as investigators at the presidential residence to detain Yoon came up against his supporters and guards.
January 03, 2025, 03:38 PM
South Korea has suspended its attempt to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed bid to impose martial law last month.
The execution of the warrant was halted at 1:30pm (local time), about five hours after investigators arrived at the presidential residence to detain Yoon, Korean media Yonhap reported.
In a notice to the press, the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) said executing the detention warrant was "practically impossible" due to continued confrontation.
The suspension was hence made "for the safety of on-site personnel caused by the resistance".
Warrant for detention presented on Friday morning
Investigators with the CIO presented a warrant to detain Yoon on Friday morning, Jan. 3, after the President ignored three summonses to appear for questioning over his botched martial law order.
They also obtained a warrant to search the presidential residence.
However, thousands of Yoon's supporters opposing his impeachment, as well as Presidential Security Service personnel standing guard outside the presidential residence, hindered the arrest.
The police reportedly forcibly dispersed some supporters, and are considering taking these supporters into custody for the obstruction of official duties, according to Yonhap.
CIO has until Monday to detain Yoon
The CIO has until Monday (Jan. 6) to detain Yoon on charges of insurrection and abuse of power over his failed martial law bid on Dec. 3.
The arrest would be the first for a sitting president in South Korea.
If arrested, Yoon would be taken to the CIO's headquarters in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, for questioning before detaining him at the Seoul Detention Center in Uiwang city.
The CIO would then have 48 hours to either seek another warrant for his formal arrest or release him.
Background
In the late hours of Dec. 3, Yoon declared an "emergency martial law" in a surprise televised briefing.
The martial law was in effect for approximately six hours, before Yoon lifted the law in the early hours of Dec. 4, following the National Assembly's unanimous vote.
Yoon was later impeached on Dec. 14, with 204 National Assembly's lawmakers voting in favour of his impeachment.
He later refused three times to appear for questioning for the investigation over his botched martial law order.
Top image via @sukyeol.yoon/Instagram
