South Korean investigators have failed to arrive at the residence of impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol to execute an arrest warrant against him.
South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that they encountered resistance upon arrival and were then locked in a nearly six-hour-long standoff.
The investigators entered the presidential residence through heavy security barriers and Yonhap reported that efforts to advance were blocked by a military unit inside the compound.
After the unit managed to “move on”, they encountered the Presidential Security Service who was still protecting the impeached President.
Officials from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) for high-ranking officials called off arrest efforts at around 1:30 pm (0430 UTC/GMT) due to concerns about the safety of their personnel.
“It was decided that it was almost impossible to execute the arrest warrant due to the current standoff,” the CIO said in a statement.
In response to investigators reached Friday, Yoon’s lawyer said they were not acting legally and that further legal action would be taken against the move.
Yoon’s lawyer Yoon Kap-kyun said, “The execution of the illegal and invalid warrant is not actually lawful.” “Legal action will be taken regarding the illegal execution of the warrant,” he said.
Hundreds of the President’s supporters gathered at his residence in an attempt to stop the investigation.
Warrant issued for arrest on court order
On Tuesday, a Seoul court issued a warrant for Yoon’s arrest and halted searches of his offices in the South Korean capital after he failed to appear for questioning despite repeated requests.
Authorities are investigating whether Yun’s short-term declaration of martial law on December 3 amounted to rebellion.
He could become the first sitting president to be arrested in the history of South Korea.
Thus the supporters’ protest continues
The embattled president vowed to “fight to the end” as he faces arrest.
Supporters who gathered on Thursday to protest the arrest warrant against Yoon camped overnight and chanted “The illegal warrant is invalid” as investigators and media gathered at the presidential residence on Friday morning.
“I will fight with you to the end to protect this country,” the president told his supporters Thursday.
The Presidential Security Service continues to protect Yun as the current head of state and had prevented previous police raids on the residence.
km, sdi/jsi (AP, AFP, Reuters)
