by Efforts to detain South Korea’s suspended president, Yoon Suk Yeol, were dramatically halted on Friday after a tense standoff between investigators and the president’s security forces at the presidential compound in Seoul. The attempted arrest deepens the political chaos that has gripped the country since Yoon declared martial law in December, a move that led to his impeachment.
Investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), accompanied by 80 police officers, entered the presidential compound early Friday morning to enforce an arrest warrant issued earlier this week. However, they were blocked by a “human wall” of approximately 200 soldiers and members of Yoon’s presidential security team, the CIO said in a statement.
The standoff, which included several physical altercations, forced investigators to suspend the arrest operation by Friday afternoon, citing safety concerns. The warrant, valid until January 6, remains active and could be extended, but the CIO acknowledged that executing it under the current circumstances may be “virtually impossible.”
Yoon, who was impeached by lawmakers last month and stripped of his presidential powers, is wanted for questioning over multiple allegations, including leading an insurrection—a serious charge that carries the possibility of life imprisonment or even the death penalty. Despite repeated summonses, Yoon has refused to cooperate with investigators, further escalating tensions.
In response, the CIO expressed “deep regret” over Yoon’s lack of compliance and urged acting President Choi Sang-mok to order the presidential security team to respect the arrest warrant.
Supporters rally behind Yoon amid growing tensions
The scene outside Yoon’s residence was charged with emotion as hundreds of his supporters gathered to protest the attempted detention. Braving freezing temperatures, many carried signs in English reading “Stop the steal” and waved American flags, a nod to Yoon’s reputation as a staunch U.S. ally. Some supporters labeled the arrest warrant as treason, while others angrily chanted for the CIO itself to be arrested.
Yoon’s lawyer described the arrest warrant as “illegal and invalid,” vowing to take legal action against its enforcement. On Tuesday, Yoon’s defense team filed an injunction with the Constitutional Court to suspend the warrant and a separate objection to a lower court.
The embattled leader, who has largely stayed out of public view since his impeachment, vowed in a letter to supporters on Thursday to “fight to the end for the country.” His declaration has further galvanized his base, even as opposition parties call for his surrender.
The Democratic Party, South Korea’s main opposition party, demanded on Friday that Yoon exit his residence and comply with the law. “All members of the Republic of Korea need to abide by law and order,” the party said in a statement, accusing Yoon of cowardice.
Martial law declaration and its aftermath
Yoon’s political downfall began on December 3, when he declared martial law in a surprise late-night address. He accused opposition lawmakers of “paralyzing state affairs” and claimed his decree was necessary to protect South Korea’s democracy from “anti-state elements.”
The declaration was met with swift and widespread condemnation. Members of the National Assembly, including some from Yoon’s own party, voted to overturn the martial law order within six hours. Public outrage over Yoon’s actions led to his impeachment and sparked intense political turmoil, with parliament also voting to remove the prime minister and acting president, Han Duck-soo, shortly afterward. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is now serving as acting president.
Since Yoon’s impeachment, new allegations have emerged about his conduct during the martial law declaration. According to reports, Yoon ordered troops to South Korea’s parliament as lawmakers scrambled to block the order with a vote. Soldiers allegedly attempted to enter the National Assembly’s main hall, but lawmakers barricaded the doors using furniture to prevent their entry.
A prosecution indictment report released Friday revealed that Yoon had allegedly instructed the military to use firearms to break down the doors if necessary. This revelation has intensified scrutiny on Yoon, with his former defense minister, Kim Yong-hyun, already arrested and indicted for his role in the insurrection.
Legal battles ahead
The impeachment trial against Yoon is set to begin on January 14 in South Korea’s Constitutional Court. The trial, which could take up to six months, will decide whether Yoon will be permanently removed from office or reinstated.
The Constitutional Court has prioritized the case, along with other impeachment proceedings initiated by opposition lawmakers against members of Yoon’s administration, including the justice minister and senior prosecutors.
If arrested, Yoon could be held for up to 48 hours for questioning under the existing warrant. The CIO would then need to seek an additional warrant to extend his detention. However, Yoon’s legal team is actively challenging the warrant’s validity, and his security forces’ resistance has made enforcement a logistical and legal challenge.
A nation divided
The political crisis has further polarized South Korea. Yoon’s supporters view him as a defender of conservative values and national sovereignty, while his critics see him as a destabilizing figure who overstepped his authority by attempting to suspend democracy through martial law.
The fallout from his actions has revived painful memories of South Korea’s authoritarian past, a history many believed was firmly buried. For now, the country waits anxiously as its political and legal systems grapple with the consequences of Yoon’s dramatic and controversial tenure.
