South Korean authorities Friday suspended their attempt to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol following a tense six-hour standoff between investigators and security forces loyal to the embattled conservative president.
In a statement, the joint investigative team trying to detain Yoon said it was "practically impossible" to proceed with the execution of the court-approved detention warrant considering resistance and the safety of personnel on-site.
In an early morning raid, a team of about 100 investigators and detectives, backed by about 3,000 riot police camped outside, arrived at Yoon’s official residence in central Seoul, as part of a probe into insurrection and abuse of power.
Following minor clashes at the compound’s perimeter, the detention team got within 200 meters of Yoon’s residence but were met by a barricade of about 200 soldiers and other armed security personnel who prevented further access, according to a background briefing by the Corruption Investigation Office, which is leading the joint investigation.
Though none of the security personnel defending Yoon reached for their weapons, the CIO cited a "significant risk of injuries" given the large number of people in a confined space.
The joint investigation team said they would review the next steps regarding the detention warrant, which remains valid through Monday.
The events represent the continuation of an extraordinary month of political chaos that began on Dec. 3, when Yoon, a conservative ex-prosecutor, declared martial law. The declaration was quickly overturned by lawmakers, who later impeached Yoon, suspending his presidential powers, pending a ruling by the country’s Constitutional Court.
Separately, Yoon is being investigated for insurrection and abuse of power related to the martial law declaration.
Yoon ignored three summonses to appear for questioning as part of the investigation, leading a Seoul court to issue a detention warrant earlier this week.
The Presidential Security Service guarding Yoon has repeatedly blocked investigators from entering the presidential office compound or official residence for court-approved searches, citing security and military considerations.
During Friday’s raid, the service was joined by a military unit believed to be part of the Capital Defense Command, according to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency. Those military personnel were being directed by the PSS, not the military, according to the National Defense Ministry.
Prosecutors have warned that any attempt to obstruct a court-approved detention warrant could amount to a crime, though there was no evidence that police attempted to arrest the personnel defending Yoon on Friday.
Yoon’s legal team says the insurrection investigation is illegitimate. The CIO, it insists, does not have jurisdiction to pursue insurrection charges.
In a statement Friday, Yoon's lawyers said the attempt to execute the detention warrant was illegal and vowed court action to stop it.
If Yoon is detained, authorities would have 48 hours to decide whether to file for a formal arrest warrant or to release him. It would be the first time a sitting South Korean president has been taken into police custody.
Meanwhile, a crowd of Yoon supporters remains camped outside his residence, with some vowing to protect him and others calling for the arrest of South Korean opposition leaders.
