South Korean Authority Executes President Yoon's Arrest Order: Supporters Install Agency, 2,800 Police Deployed

Yoon Suk-yeol. (Wikimedia Commons/KOCIS Official/Kang Min Seok)

JAKARTA - The South Korean police deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel, as supporters of the president who was impeached Yoon Suk-yeol installed a body outside his residence, along with plans to arrest him by the country's authorities.

Yoon is currently under criminal investigation regarding his brief military emergency announcement on December 3.

The arrest will be unprecedented for a South Korean president who is in office.

Yonhap reported officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High Officials (CIO), who led a joint team of investigators who included the police and prosecutors, had left their headquarters to carry out the warrant.

YTN broadcaster reported that around 2,800 police officers had been deployed to prepare for the implementation of the warrant.

It is unclear how the police will make arrests and whether the Presidential Security Service, which has blocked investigators' access with a search warrant to Yoon's office and official residence, will try to stop him.

Meanwhile, about 100 protesters gathered in the early hours of the morning near Yoon's residence, amid local media reports that investigative authorities would soon try to carry out an arrest warrant approved on Tuesday after Yoon refused a call to attend.

"We have to block them with our lives," a supporter could hear saying to others.

About a dozen protesters tried to block a group of police at the entrance to the pedestrian crossing bridge.

Yoon caused an uproar across the country with an announcement late at night on December 3, imposing martial law to address political stalemate and eradicate "anti-state forces".

However, within hours, 190 lawmakers had opposed the siege of troops and police to vote against Yoon's orders. About six hours after his initial decision, Yoon withdrew.

He then issued a challenging defense over his decision, saying domestic political opponents sympathized with North Korea and cited claims that were not supported by evidence of election manipulation.

Yoon has been isolated since he was impeached and dismissed from office on December 14.

Separated from a criminal investigation, his impeachment case is currently being submitted to the Constitutional Court to decide whether to return his post or permanently suspend him. The second trial in the case is scheduled for Friday.