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Investigators arrive at home of South Korean president to arrest him Investigators arrive at official residence of South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol to arrest him
(32 minutes later)
Yoon Suk Yeol, whose supporters are trying to deny access to his home, is under investigation for attempting to impose martial law Yoon, whose supporters are trying to deny access to his home, is under investigation for attempting to impose martial law
South Korean anti-corruption investigators have arrived at the residence of the impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol to carry out an arrest warrant, as protesters faced off with police outside his residence and vowed to block any attempt. Investigators in South Korea were reportedly involved in a standoff with a military unit inside the presidential residence as they attempted to arrest the country’s suspended leader Yoon Suk Yeol, weeks after his botched attempt to declare martial law.
At around 8.15am in Seoul on Friday, investigators started to attempt to arrest Yoon. Officials from the Corruption Investigation Office were let through heavy security to enter Yoon’s residence in Seoul on Friday morning, while his supporters confronted police outside.
Yoon is under criminal investigation for his short-lived attempt at imposing martial law on 3 December. An arrest would be unprecedented for an incumbent South Korean president. Investigators released a statement saying they have started executing the arrest warrant. “The execution of the arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol has begun,” the office said.
Local media reported early on Friday that officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials – which is leading a joint team of investigators that include the police and prosecutors – had arrived at Yoon’s residence. If he is detained, Yoon, who was impeached by parliament last month, would become the first sitting president to be arrested. The anti-corruption agency would then have 48 hours to investigate him and either request a warrant for his formal arrest or release him.
The broadcaster YTN reported that approximately 2,800 police had been mobilised in preparation for executing the warrant. Yoon’s defence minister, police chief and several top military commanders have already been arrested over their roles in the martial law declaration.
It was unclear exactly how police would make the arrest and whether the presidential security service, which has blocked access by investigators with a search warrant to Yoon’s office and official residence, would try to stop it. While the country’s constitutional court decides whether to uphold the impeachment vote – a move that would trigger an election for a new president – Yoon is facing allegations of insurrection over his short-lived martial law edict.
About 100 protesters were gathered near his residence in the pre-dawn hours, after local media reports suggested investigating authorities would soon try to execute an arrest warrant that was approved on Tuesday after Yoon refused summons to appear. Yoon declared martial law on 3 December in an attempt to root out what he described as anti-state, pro-North Korean forces – a reference to opposition MPs in the national assembly. He did not provide any evidence for those claims, however.
“We have to block them with our lives,” one was heard saying to others. About a dozen protesters tried to block a group of police officers at the entrance to a pedestrian overpass. He was forced to lift the order six hours later after lawmakers forced their way past troops into the parliament building to vote it down.
Investigators began their attempt to arrest Yoon, who has been holed up inside his residence in Seoul, at about 8.15am on Friday, according to media reports.
The criminal allegations against Yoon, an ultra conservative whose two and a half years in office have been marred by scandal and policy gridlock, are serious.
Insurrection is one of the few crimes from which South Korean presidents do not have immunity, and comes with penalties that can include life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
Tensions have been rising outside Yoon’s residence since a court issued a warrant to detain Yoon early this week after he ignored a summons for questioning.
The broadcaster YTN reported that 2,800 police had been mobilised in the area as Yoon’s supporters were expected to try to block investigators from executing the warrant, which was due to expire on Monday. There were no immediate reports of clashes with protesters.
It was unclear exactly how police would make the arrest and whether they would be blocked by members of the presidential security service. Yoon’s security detail has previously prevented police from searching Yoon’s office and residence.
About 100 protesters had gathered near Yoon’s residence before dawn, after local media reports suggested authorities were about to attempt top execute the warrant.
“We have to block them with our lives,” one was heard saying to fellow demonstrators. About a dozen protesters tried to block a group of police officers at the entrance to a pedestrian overpass.
Yoon had previously told supporters in a letter he would “fight until the end”.Yoon had previously told supporters in a letter he would “fight until the end”.
“I am watching on YouTube live all the hard work you are doing,” Yoon wrote late on Wednesday to the hundreds of supporters who had gathered near his official residence to protest against the investigation into him. “I am watching on YouTube live all the hard work you are doing,” he wrote late on Wednesday to the hundreds of supporters who had gathered near his official residence to protest against the investigation into him.
“I will fight until the end to protect this country together with you,” he said in the letter, a photo capture of which was sent to the media by Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer advising Yoon.“I will fight until the end to protect this country together with you,” he said in the letter, a photo capture of which was sent to the media by Seok Dong-hyeon, a lawyer advising Yoon.
The warrant for Yoon’s arrest and a search of his office and residence was issued after he defied repeated summons by investigators to appear for questioning in the criminal investigation separate from the constitutional court trial.The warrant for Yoon’s arrest and a search of his office and residence was issued after he defied repeated summons by investigators to appear for questioning in the criminal investigation separate from the constitutional court trial.
Yoon sent shock waves through the country with a late-night announcement on 3 December that he was imposing martial law to overcome political deadlock and root out “anti-state forces”.Yoon sent shock waves through the country with a late-night announcement on 3 December that he was imposing martial law to overcome political deadlock and root out “anti-state forces”.
Within hours, however, 190 lawmakers had defied the cordons of troops and police to vote against Yoon’s order. About six hours after his initial decree, Yoon rescinded it.Within hours, however, 190 lawmakers had defied the cordons of troops and police to vote against Yoon’s order. About six hours after his initial decree, Yoon rescinded it.
He later issued a defiant defence of his decision, saying domestic political opponents are sympathetic to North Korea and citing uncorroborated claims of election tampering. He later issued a defiant defence of his decision, describing it as a legitimate “act of governance”. He again accused his domestic political opponents as having North Korean sympathies and made uncorroborated claims of election tampering. While Yoon won the last presidential election, the opposition Democratic party control’s the 300-seat national assembly.
Yoon has been isolated since he was impeached and suspended from power on 14 December.Yoon has been isolated since he was impeached and suspended from power on 14 December.
Separate from the criminal investigation, his impeachment case is before the constitutional court to decide whether to reinstate or permanently remove him. A second hearing in that case is scheduled for later on Friday. A second constitutional court hearing in the impeachment case, which is separate from the criminal investigation, was scheduled for later on Friday.