Security prevents investigators from detaining Yoon Suk Yeol over martial law case
South Korea's Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) decided Friday to suspend the execution of a warrant to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.
The decision came after a five-hour standoff between the CIO-led joint investigation team and presidential security forces, who prevented investigators from detaining Yoon, Seoul-based Yonhap News reported.
The presidential residence is inside Defense Ministry compound since Yoon was elected in 2022.
Investigators decided it was impossible to go ahead today with execution of the warrant and left the premises.
The arrest warrant, issued last week, remains valid until Monday. In recent days, hundreds of supporters have gathered near the residence to protest Yoon's impeachment and prevent his arrest. Some have been forcibly removed by police.
Meanwhile, rival groups have also staged protests demanding Yoon's immediate arrest.
Yoon was impeached on Dec. 14 and is now awaiting a Constitutional Court trial that will determine whether he is permanently removed from office or reinstated. The court's decision could take up to six months.
Yoon is the first sitting president in South Korean history to face charges of insurrection and treason, along with a travel ban.
This is also the first time an arrest warrant has been issued for a sitting president in South Korea.
In a related development, prosecutors on Friday indicted South Korean Army Chief of Staff Gen. Park An-su and Lt. Gen. Kwak Jong-keun, head of the Army Special Warfare Command, on charges of insurrection and abuse of power.
The two commanders are among several high-ranking military officials detained in connection with the failed Dec. 3 martial law attempt.
Yoon had appointed Park to oversee the martial law operation.
Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who has also been arrested, is the first official to be indicted in the martial law probe.
