South Korea suspends efforts to arrest impeached president Yoon

Seoul
South Korean police have suspended an attempt to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol after a six-hour standoff with his security team.
Yoon is under investigation for abusing his power and attempting to impose martial law in December. The incident has sparked a political crisis, with Yoon being impeached by an opposition-led parliament and suspended from office.
A Seoul court issued a warrant for Yoon’s arrest earlier this week after he ignored multiple summonses to appear for questioning. The police operation began on Friday morning, with dozens of police vans surrounding Yoon’s residence in central Seoul.
The arrest team, initially consisting of 20 officers, grew to approximately 150 people. Despite this, the team was met with resistance from security officers and military units assigned to protect Yoon.
At one point, security officers formed a human barrier and used vehicles to block the arrest team. The situation led to a confrontation between the security officers and the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which had been investigating Yoon’s actions.
In response, the CIO announced that the arrest was “practically impossible” due to the standoff, but added that further steps would be considered after review.
Yoon’s supporters, who had gathered outside the residence, celebrated the suspension of the arrest attempt.
The CIO expressed regret over Yoon’s refusal to comply with legal processes, citing concerns for the safety of the arrest team as another factor in halting the operation.
Yoon, a former chief prosecutor, has been known for his legal acumen, and experts suggest he is using legal strategies to delay or avoid the arrest.
Investigators have until January 6 to execute the arrest warrant before it expires, and may attempt another arrest over the weekend.
Prior to the suspension of the attempt, Yoon’s legal team indicated they would take legal action against the arrest warrant, arguing that the investigators lacked the authority to detain him.
In addition, South Korea’s opposition party criticized Yoon for not taking responsibility for his actions related to the martial law attempt.
The situation comes after days of protests following Yoon’s declaration of martial law on December 3. The political turmoil led to his impeachment by parliament on December 14.
Additionally, prosecutors have indicted army chief Park An-su and special forces commander Kwak Jong-geun on insurrection charges, and both will face trial while in prison.
The CIO’s ability to execute the arrest remains uncertain, as it continues to face jurisdictional challenges and resistance from other agencies.