South Korean authorities attempted and failed on Friday (January 3) to execute an unprecedented arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk Yeol. Police got involved in a tense standoff at the presidential residence, where Yoon has been staying since his impeachment last month.
After more than five hours, investigators and police officers began leaving the residence in central Seoul around 1:30 p.m. local time, having been unable to carry out the arrest.
Yoon’s Security Blocks Investigators
Authorities stated that they had suspended the execution of the arrest warrant for the day, explaining that it was “impossible to execute it today” due to safety concerns. They were blocked by Yoon’s presidential security detail, which prevented them from proceeding.
“It is to our extreme regret that the suspect did not respond to the legal proceedings,” a joint team of investigators said in a statement.
PSS chief Park Jong-joon denied investigators access to Yoon’s residence, citing restrictions on entering locations that could be linked to military secrets, according to state-run Yonhap News Agency.
A CIO official reported that the investigators and police were outnumbered by PSS personnel and soldiers assigned to presidential security. As many as 200 individuals formed a human chain to block the CIO and police, the official added.
Yoon’s Arrest Could Mark Historic First
The arrest warrant for President Yoon is valid until January 6, giving investigators just 48 hours to detain him after his arrest. They must then decide whether to request a detention warrant or release him.
Yoon’s security detail has previously prevented investigators from carrying out several search warrants directed at the president.
If arrested, Yoon would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be detained.
