South Korea’s political crisis took a dramatic turn on Friday when investigators were forced to abandon an attempt to arrest the impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, after a tense standoff with his security forces.
The investigators’ office said it would discuss further action but did not immediately say whether it would make another attempt to detain Yoon.
The confrontation unfolded on a freezing winter’s day in Seoul, as an estimated 1,200 Yoon supporters gathered outside his official residence while police and other officials inside attempted to execute an arrest warrant – the first for a sitting South Korean president.
The warrant was issued on Tuesday after Yoon again ignored a court order to submit himself for questioning over the insurrection allegations.
If he is eventually detained, Yoon, who was impeached by parliament last month, would become the first sitting president to be arrested.
Others chanted: “President Yoon Suk Yeol will be protected by the people,” and called for the head of the corruption office to be arrested. »
