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| Investigators and police leave the official residence of South Korea's impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol after failing to arrest him | Photo: Reuters |
South Korean investigators have failed to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol.
Officers from the country's Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), accompanied by police, went to the presidential residence complex on Friday morning to arrest Yoon over the failed attempt to impose martial law in South Korea last month.
The Presidential Security Service (PSS) and military personnel also obstructed Yun's arrest.
On the other hand, hundreds of Yun's supporters took positions outside the president's residence to prevent his arrest.
Dramatic circumstances developed surrounding the attempt to arrest Yun. A standoff lasted for several hours. Later, investigators withdrew from the arrest attempt. They left the presidential residence complex.
As the investigators left, Yun's supporters, stationed outside the presidential residence, cheered. They chanted, "We have won."
"The arrest warrant has become virtually impossible to execute due to the current situation," the investigators said in a statement. "We will review the situation and take further action. We have seen the accused's refusal to follow the legal process, which is very unfortunate."
President Yoon imposed martial law in South Korea on December 3. But he was forced to lift it after six hours in the face of strong protests.
President Yoon was impeached by parliament on December 14 for imposing martial law. He was temporarily suspended from his duties as president. If the country's Constitutional Court upholds Yoon's impeachment, he could be removed from office.
Investigators are investigating Yun's decision to impose martial law. He has repeatedly refused to appear before investigators on charges of abuse of power and inciting rebellion. A court in the country issued an arrest warrant for Yun on December 31.
Yun's legal team has called the arrest warrant "unlawful." They said they would challenge it.
The arrest warrant is valid until January 6. It is unclear what will happen after investigators failed to arrest Yoon today. However, investigators can try to arrest Yoon again during the term of the warrant. If he is not arrested within that period, they can apply for a new warrant.