Soldiers Block Efforts To Arrest South Korean President Who Was Impeached By Yoon Suk-yeol

Yoon Suk-yeol. (Wikimedia Commons/KOCIS Official/Kim sun joo)

JAKARTA - Efforts to arrest the South Korean President, which Yoon Suk-yeol impeached by the investigative team, were challenged by the country's military, while his lawyers called the arrest attempt invalid.

Investigators from the state anti-corruption agency Yoon attempted to be blocked by soldiers at his Seoul residence on Friday, reported The Korea Times from Yonhap News Agency January 3.

Investigators entered the president's residence to carry out Yoon's impeachment warrant for his failed attempt to impose a military emergency last month.

"We have begun implementing a detention warrant for President Yoon," the Corruption Investigation Office for High Officials (CIO) said in a notification to the press.

CIO has until Monday to carry out a detention warrant on charges of rebellion and abuse of power related to the imposition of martial law on December 3.

However, demonstrations by Yoon's supporters outside the president's residence have made it difficult for CIO's efforts, along with potential clashes with the Presidential Security Service.

Thousands of supporters have gathered near the residence in recent days to oppose Yoon's impeachment and hinder his arrest. Several people have been forcibly dispersed by police and taken away with their limbs.

Earlier, observers said the implementation of warrants on Saturdays or Sundays could pose a risk of facing larger crowds. Meanwhile, its implementation on Monday will be too close to the deadline.

CIO has teamed up with police and defense ministry investigative units to conduct a joint investigation into Yoon's failed military emergency efforts.

CIO asked for a detention warrant after Yoon ignored all three summons to attend for examination. The agency has also obtained a warrant to search the president's residence.

Meanwhile, Yoon's legal team has called the warrant "illegal and illegitimate" and filed an order against its implementation.

If the Presidential Security Service or Yoon's supporters try to stop CIO from carrying out arrests, the police have said they will take firm action by detaining them on charges of obstructing official duties.

If Yoon is arrested, investigators plan to take him to CIO's head office in Gweacheon, just south of Seoul, for questioning before detaining him at the Seoul Detention Center near Uiwang.

After being detained, CIO will have 48 hours to submit another warrant for its official detention or release it.