The impeached president of South Korea avoids the arrest attempt after a standoff of hours

Impeached South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday rejected an arrest attempt on Friday after an hours-long standoff between investigators with the country’s anti-corruption agency and presidential security.

Investigators left the president’s official residence after the presidential security service prevented them from entering for nearly six hours due to concerns about his safety.

The agency expressed “serious regret for the attitude of the suspect, who did not respond to a process by law.”

Yoon, that was charged last month over his brief declaration of martial law, he defied investigators’ attempts to question him for weeks. He has not left the residence since December 12, when he went to the nearby presidential office to make a televised statement to the nation, promising to fight efforts to oust him.

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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during an interview at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Lee ​​Jin-man)

Apparently frustrated that his policies were blocked by an opposition-dominated parliament, Yoon declared martial law on December 3 and sent troops to surround the National Assembly.

Parliament announced the declaration in a few hours in a unanimous vote and impeached Yoon on December 14, accusing him of rebellion. Meanwhile, anti-corruption authorities and public prosecutors have opened separate investigations.

A Seoul court issued a warrant for Yoon’s arrest on Tuesday, but enforcement is complicated as long as he remains in his official residence.

Investigators from the High-Ranking Officials Corruption Investigation Bureau arrive at the door of the presidential residence as supporters of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a demonstration to oppose a court that issued a sent to arrest Yoon, in Seoul, South Korea. Friday, January 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee ​​Jin-man)

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Yoon’s lawyers, who filed a challenge to the warrant on Thursday, say it cannot be enforced at his residence because of a law that protects places potentially linked to military secrets from being searched without the consent of the person in charge.

The office said it would discuss further actions, but did not immediately say whether it would make another attempt to arrest Yoon. The warrant for his detention is valid for one week.

If the investigators manage to arrest Yoonprobably ask a court for permission to make a formal arrest. Otherwise, it will be released after 48 hours.

Supporters of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol stage a demonstration to oppose a court that issued a warrant to arrest Yoon, near the presidential residence in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, January 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Lee ​​Jin-man)

Thousands of police officers gathered at Yoon’s residence on Friday, forming a perimeter around a growing group of pro-Yoon protesters who braved subfreezing temperatures for hours, waving South Korean and American flags while chanting slogans in their support.

There were no immediate reports of major clashes outside the residence.

Nearly five hours after dozens of investigators and police officers were seen entering the gate of the residence in Seoul to execute a warrant for Yoon’s arrest, the dramatic scene appeared to have developed into a stalemate. Two of Yoon’s lawyers, Yoon Kap-keun and Kim Hong-il, were seen entering the gate of the presidential residence around noon.

It was unclear whether investigators successfully entered Yoon’s residential building, but South Korea’s YTN television reported scuffles as investigators and police clashed with presidential security forces.

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Yoon’s presidential powers were suspended by the National Assembly which voted to impeach him on December 14. Yoon’s fate is now up to the Constitutional Court, which has begun deliberations on whether to uphold the impeachment and formally remove Yoon from office or reinstate him. At least six judges of the nine-member Constitutional Court must vote in favor of removing him from his post.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.