A dramatic six-hour standoff unfolded on Friday as South Korea's presidential guards and military troops prevented authorities from arresting impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The confrontation took place inside Yoon’s compound in the heart of Seoul, escalating tensions in a country grappling with the fallout from his December 3 declaration of martial law.
Yoon, under criminal investigation for insurrection, is the first sitting South Korean president to face an arrest warrant. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO), leading the probe, confirmed the failure to execute the warrant.
“It was judged that it was virtually impossible to execute the arrest warrant due to the ongoing standoff,” the CIO said in a statement.
As dawn broke, hundreds of Yoon’s supporters gathered near his residence, vowing to block the arrest. Chanting slogans such as "President Yoon Suk Yeol will be protected by the people," the demonstrators called for the CIO’s head to be arrested instead.
CIO officials and police attempted to reach Yoon’s compound, arriving at its gates shortly after 7 a.m. local time (2200 GMT Thursday). Upon entry, they encountered resistance from a coordinated defense by the Presidential Security Service (PSS) and military personnel assigned to presidential security.
According to a CIO official, as many as 200 security personnel formed a human chain to obstruct the arrest team. The Ministry of National Defense later clarified that the military troops present were acting under PSS orders.
By 1:30 p.m., the CIO called off the operation, citing concerns over the safety of its personnel due to persistent obstruction.
“The CIO deeply regrets President Yoon’s attitude of non-compliance,” the office stated, pledging to evaluate its next steps.
Insurrection is one of the few criminal charges from which a sitting South Korean president does not have immunity. Yoon’s martial law bid, a move that stunned the nation, remains the focal point of the investigation.
The unfolding crisis raises questions about the rule of law and the balance of power in South Korea, as the nation watches closely to see how authorities will navigate this unprecedented situation.