After a six-hour standoff with Yoon Suk Yeol’s security team, South Korean police called off an attempt to arrest the suspended president.
Yoon is under investigation for abusing his power and inciting an insurgency when he attempted to impose martial law in early December.
The move, although short-lived, caused a political crisis as Yoon was impeached by an opposition-led parliament and suspended from office.
A South Korean court issued a warrant for his arrest early this week.
Since early Friday morning, scores of South Korean police vans have lined the street outside Yoon’s downtown Seoul apartment.
Around 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT), an arrest team consisting of police officers and CIO members marched towards the property.
The operation began with a 20-person team but swiftly grew to approximately 150 workers.
Even yet, they were outnumbered. While about half of the crew was able to enter, they were trapped for hours in a standoff with security agents—who are still responsible for Yoon’s protection despite his loss of powers—and a military unit in charge of guarding Seoul.
According to Yonhap, military and security officers formed a human wall and deployed vehicles to impede the arrest team’s path.
At one point the security team engaged in a “confrontation with the CIO at the presidential residence,” an official with Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP.
“We’ve determined that the arrest is practically impossible,” said the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which has been investigating Yoon’s short-lived martial law declaration last month.
Yoon’s “refusal of the legal process” is “deeply regrettable,” according to the CIO, who added that the next measures will be determined following a review.
Yoon’s fans, who had been camped out in front of the presidential mansion for days, burst into song and dancing as the suspension was announced. “We won!” they chanted.
The CIO stated that concern for the safety of the team on the ground played a role in their decision to cancel the attempted arrest.
This development is not surprising given Yoon’s stubbornness throughout the probe.
According to experts, Yoon, a former chief prosecutor, is well aware of the legal loopholes available for his defence.
Investigators have until January 6th to arrest him before his current warrant expires.
This indicates they may try to arrest Yoon again during the weekend, though logistics may be difficult due to the large crowds.
They can even file a new warrant and attempt to detain him again.
Before the effort was called off, Yoon’s security team told the news agency that they were “in negotiation” with the investigators who wanted to see the president.
According to Yonhap, police have summoned the chief of Yoon’s security service and his deputy for questioning.
Yoon’s legal team was also seen entering the residence after noon local time.
Yoon Gab-keun, Yoon’s lawyer, previously stated that they would take legal action against the arrest warrant, arguing that investigators lacked authority to detain him.
