South Korean authorities have suspended efforts to detain impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol after an hours-long standoff with his security team, escalating the nation’s ongoing political crisis. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) announced on Friday that it had temporarily ceased its attempt to execute an arrest warrant against Yoon after the Presidential Security Service (PSS) denied investigators entry to his residence.
The arrest warrant’s execution was deemed impossible due to confrontation and safety issues for personnel,” the CIO said.
The arrest warrant comes at the context of insurrection and abuse of power allegations joined to Yoon’s decree of martial law on December 3, an action that has sent the country of South Korea to its most turbulent political period in years. Suspended from performing his presidential duties since December 14 after his impeachment, Yoon is the first ever sitting president in South Korean history to be put under possible arrest.
PSS chief Park Jong-joon cited the restrictions on access to locations associated with military secrets as the reason for denying entry to investigators. Meanwhile, Yoon’s legal team argued that the authorities exceeded their jurisdiction and violated legal protocols.
Liberal opposition Democratic Party appealed to Acting President Choi Sang-mok, asking him to instruct the security team to comply and prevent further chaos. Still, one of Yoon’s lawyers, Seok Dong-hyeon, said it would be hard for authorities to succeed in detaining the beleaguered leader on Friday.
The arrest warrant, effective until January 6, means Yoon can be detained for 48 hours. Prosecutors will then decide whether to ask for a detention warrant or let him go.
Thousands of Yoon’s supporters have staged protests outside his residence in sub-zero temperatures demanding the investigation end and reversal of his impeachment. Protesters shouted slogans like “President Yoon Suk-yeol will be protected by the people.
If convicted of treason for which a sitting president does not have immunity Yoon could be sentenced to life in prison or possibly face the death penalty. The Constitutional Court has six months to decide whether to keep his impeachment intact or give him back his powers.
