Investigators in South Korea suspend their attempt to arrest the ousted president

Yesterday, investigators in South Korea suspended the implementation of an arrest warrant issued by the judiciary against deposed President Yoon Suk-yul, to question him regarding his failed attempt a month ago to impose martial law in the country, after presidential security prevented them from doing so.

The Office of Investigation into Corruption of Senior Officials said in a statement, “With regard to the implementation of the arrest warrant, it was determined that its implementation was impossible on the ground due to the ongoing confrontation. Concern for the safety of employees at the site led to a decision to halt implementation.”

Yesterday morning, the office announced that “the implementation of the arrest warrant issued against President Yeon Suk-yeol has begun.”

However, Yonhap News Agency soon reported that investigators who entered the presidential residence were not immediately able to arrest the deposed president, because a military unit inside confronted them.

An official in the Office of Investigation into Corruption of Senior Officials said that 20 investigators, supported by 80 policemen, participated in the operation, but they faced about 200 soldiers and members of the Presidential Security Service who formed a human wall to prevent them from passing.

He added during a press conference that presidential security had previously closed the access road to the president’s residence, using 10 minibuses and other vehicles, but investigators were nevertheless able to enter the property “following a circular path on the side of the hill.”

The official indicated that “altercations occurred” between the two camps, explaining that none of his team members saw Yoon Seok-yeol during the raid.

He said: “The passage of the force was not realistically possible, as the number of people gathered there was much greater than the number of our team, and due to major security concerns, the operation was suspended.”

A team of the office’s investigators, led by Prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan, were seen entering, with security support, the presidential residence located in the center of the capital, Seoul, where the operation took place, while a crowd of Yul’s supporters gathered in front of the residence.

Yoon Suk-yeol is being pursued on suspicion of “rebellion” after his attempt to impose martial law in the country failed a month ago.

But the defense agent for the ousted president confirmed yesterday that the investigators who tried to arrest his client acted in violation of the law, pledging to take legal measures against them.

The political crisis in South Korea worsened last weekend when Parliament also impeached Han Dak-soo, who replaced Yoon, for not signing bills to conduct investigations into Yoon.

On Thursday night, hundreds of Yul supporters gathered near the presidential residence, and this movement took place under heavy surveillance by security forces.

On the other hand, opponents of Yule also demonstrated in front of the presidential headquarters, and clashes broke out between the two parties and were broken up by the police. According to Yonhap, the police deployed about 2,700 personnel to the site after these clashes broke out.

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Blinken visits Seoul in the midst of its political crisis

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken will visit South Korea for talks next week, according to what the South Korean Foreign Ministry reported yesterday, while the country is witnessing political unrest in light of its ousted president’s resistance to comply with an arrest warrant issued against him, after he declared martial law. The ministry stated in a statement that Blinken will meet his counterpart Cho Tae-yul the day after tomorrow, Monday.

She added: “They are expected to discuss the alliance between South Korea and the United States, cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan, North Korea issues, and regional and global challenges.”