South Korean authorities were unable to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached on December 14, on Friday as they were blocked by his presidential security detail and a growing crowd of his supporters. The authorities had issued an arrest warrant on Tuesday, citing Yoon’s failed attempt to impose martial law and his role in the botched declaration.
The standoff occurred as a result of the presidential security detail’s decision to block investigators and police officers from entering Yoon’s official residence in Seoul to serve the arrest warrant. The joint investigation team, which includes the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said it had suspended the execution of the arrest warrant due to safety concerns.
Yoon’s lawyers argue that the warrant is illegal and challenged it in court, saying the Corruption Investigation Office does not have the authority to issue the warrant. The warrant, which does not expire until Monday, could lead to Yoon’s detention for questioning on possible charges of insurrection, a crime for which South Korean presidents do not have immunity.
The standoff has also sparked widespread protests in support of Yoon, with thousands of his supporters, including around 30 who are still staging a sit-in protest outside the presidential residence, attempting to form a “human shield” to protect the president from arrest. The officials have called for Yoon’s arrest, saying he is not above the law and that his actions are a threat to national security.
The crisis has also raised concerns about the stability and unity of South Korea, as well as its relations with the United States and North Korea. Yoon has been a divisive figure, with his approval rating dropping to just 11% according to a recent Gallup poll, and his actions being criticized by both opposition parties and the media.