South Korean Authorities' Attempt To Arrest Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol Suspended Over Safety Concerns

The investigator from Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) in South Korea suspended their attempt to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday (3 January) after a prolonged standoff with presidential security staff.

The effort to execute the detention warrant, tied to Yoon's failed martial law bid in December, ended after over 5 hours due to safety concerns.

“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,” the CIO stated, expressing “serious regret over the behaviour of the suspect who refused to comply with legally set procedures.”

The standoff saw over 10 vehicles and 200 personnel from the South Korean Presidential Security Service (PSS) and military forming barriers to block investigators, who were backed by 80 police officers.

Scuffles reportedly occurred at various points, and prosecutors were only allowed to approach the residence's entrance but not enter.

Yoon’s legal team argued that the warrants were “illegal and invalid,” claiming the prosecuters lacked the authority to investigate insurrection charges.

The warrants, which included permission to search the residence, were issued after Yoon ignored three summonses for questioning.

Protests complicated the situation, with over 1,000 Yoon supporters rallying near the residence, growing to 11,000 by the time the CIO withdrew. Supporters chanted, “Illegal warrant, Completely invalid,” and celebrated the withdrawal with cheers.

Meanwhile, anti-Yoon protesters, led by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, vowed to continue rallies demanding his arrest.

The CIO has until Monday to execute the warrant, as attempts over the weekend could face larger crowds.

The agency, working with police and the defence ministry, aims to question Yoon at its headquarters in Gwacheon before detaining him at the Seoul Detention Centre.

Yoon’s defence team has filed for an injunction against the warrants and plans to pursue legal action against the CIO’s attempts.

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