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South Korea plunged deeper into political crisis on Saturday as President Yoon Suk Yeol resisted arrest following his controversial martial law decree, with the warrant for his arrest set to expire in just days.
On Friday, high-stakes drama unfolded as Yoon’s presidential guards and military forces shielded him from investigators attempting to execute the arrest warrant. The standoff, deemed too dangerous to proceed, ended without further action from the authorities.
“There was a standoff involving approximately 200 personnel blocking our way, possibly more,” an investigator, speaking anonymously, told reporters. “It was a dangerous situation.”
The embattled president was impeached and suspended last month after his martial law order was swiftly overturned by parliament. He now faces charges of insurrection, a crime not covered by presidential immunity, carrying penalties ranging from imprisonment to the death sentence.
If apprehended, Yoon would make history as the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.
Arrest Attempts Stalled
Since his impeachment, Yoon has remained at his official residence in Seoul, evading three summonses for questioning. Friday’s standoff reportedly involved brief clashes but no gunfire, leaving the warrant’s execution uncertain ahead of its expiration on Monday.
Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), tasked with probing the martial law declaration, may attempt another arrest before the deadline or request a new warrant if it lapses.
The Constitutional Court has scheduled Yoon’s impeachment trial to begin on January 14, with proceedings set to continue even if Yoon declines to appear.
Yoon’s legal team called the arrest attempt “unlawful and invalid” and pledged to take legal action. Two senior officials from the president’s security detail also refused to appear for questioning, citing the gravity of their protective duties.
Legal experts suggest authorities may wait for a Constitutional Court ruling on Yoon’s impeachment to strip him of presidential immunity before attempting another arrest.
Defiance and Divisions
Yoon has remained defiant, telling his supporters he will fight “to the very end” to retain his position. On Friday, his security forces outnumbered the investigators, with about 200 soldiers and guards blocking a team of 20 investigators and 80 police officers from entering his residence.
The standoff lasted six hours before investigators retreated, citing safety concerns. In a statement, the CIO indicated it would seek support from Acting President Choi Sang-mok to enforce the warrant.
The political deadlock has raised concerns about South Korea’s stability. The United States, a key ally, has called for calm and urged political leaders to chart a “stable path” forward.
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to strong bilateral relations, while outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Seoul on Monday for talks addressing the crisis and tensions with North Korea.
(AFP)