South Korean Military Unit Prevents Investigators from Arresting President
SEOUL, South Korea — On Friday, South Korean authorities announced they initiated the execution of an arrest warrant against impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol due to his failed attempt to impose martial law in the country last month.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials declared, “The execution of the arrest warrant issued against President Yoon Suk Yeol has begun.”
AFP correspondents observed a team of investigators from the office, led by a prosecutor, entering the presidential residence in central Seoul with security assistance through its massive iron gates around 8 a.m. local time.
The raid took place as a crowd of Yoon’s supporters gathered outside the residence to protect him, according to AFP journalists. However, Yonhap News Agency reported that the investigators are now “in a standoff with the presidential security” after an earlier confrontation with a military unit inside the compound.
Yoon faces charges of “insurrection” following his unsuccessful attempt to enforce martial law. Officially, Yoon remains the President as the National Assembly’s impeachment decision awaits a final ruling by the Constitutional Court.
If the arrest warrant is executed, Yoon would become the first sitting president to be detained in South Korea’s history.
Yoon’s lawyer confirmed to AFP on Thursday that his client is still inside the presidential compound.
On the night of December 3 to 4, Yoon, aged 63, surprisingly declared martial law, only to retract it six hours later under pressure from both parliament and public protests.
The political crisis in South Korea escalated last weekend when the parliament also impeached Han Duck-soo, who had taken over from Yoon, for refusing to sign bills for investigations into Yoon.
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