Standoff at presidential residence as investigators seek to arrest impeached President Yoon

Investigators seeking to arrest South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over an attempted declaration of martial law were involved in a standoff with the Presidential Security Service (PSS) outside the presidential residence on Friday, Yonhap news agency reported. Had to face.

Officials from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) for high-ranking officials submitted a warrant for Yoon’s arrest and search of his/her residence. However, PSS chief Park Chong-joon blocked their entry, citing security restrictions on the campus.

“CIO prosecutors and investigators are in a standoff with the Presidential Security Service in front of the residence after clearing the first and second barriers,” a police officer said.

The CIO has until Monday to execute the arrest warrant related to Yun’s brief imposition of martial law on December 3, Yonhap reports.

Observers had said that arresting Yoon on Saturday and Sunday would pose a greater risk of confronting Yoon’s supporters, while executing the warrant on Monday would be too close to the deadline.

A Seoul court on Tuesday approved a warrant to detain Yoon, who was impeached over a failed attempt to impose martial law. Yun was impeached by the National Assembly for attempting to impose martial law in the country.

When issuing the warrant, the court rejected Yoon’s claims that the CIO lacked jurisdiction over rebellion cases and therefore the warrant request was illegal. The court also rejected Yoon’s claims that he/she could not attend the interrogation session because his/her personal security as president had not been arranged, Yonhap news agency reported.

Earlier on December 14, Yun was impeached by the National Assembly over attempting to impose martial law in the country. Members of the unicameral National Assembly voted 204 against 85 to impeach the President of South Korea.

Three members of the National Assembly abstained from voting while eight votes were declared invalid. The vote was conducted via secret ballot, with a two-thirds vote required for impeachment. All 300 members of the assembly cast their votes.

Following the impeachment, Yoon was suspended from office.