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South Korean investigators have launched a new attempt to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol in connection with his failure to impose martial law in the country last month.
The operation, which began shortly after 4 a.m. local time on Wednesday, is the second attempt this month by South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Bureau to arrest Yoon for questioning on corruption charges. insurrection and abuse of power.
A first attempt by investigators to arrest Yoon at his presidential complex earlier this month was foiled by his protection agents after a tense confrontation lasting several hours.
Footage broadcast on South Korean television on Wednesday appeared to show police fighting with pro-Yoon protesters outside the compound, where he has been held for several weeks.
According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, police and IOC officials arrived at the compound and presented an arrest warrant for Yoon, but were prevented from entering by presidential security, who remained faithful to him.
Yonhap also reported that about 30 lawmakers from Yoon’s conservative People Power party were in the compound and were trying to prevent officials from entering.
“Physical clashes are taking place between the Corruption Investigation Bureau, the police and the presidential security services in front of the presidential residence, and there are also intense scuffles between Yoon’s supporters and the police,” said to journalists the leader of the People’s Power party, Kweon Seong-dong. outside the country’s National Assembly.
“Execution of an arrest warrant. . . is neither in keeping with Korea’s dignity nor respectful to the sitting president.
Police said they were also seeking to execute an arrest warrant for Kim Seong-hoon, deputy head of Yoon’s presidential security team.
Yoon remains South Korea’s nominal head of state while the country’s Constitutional Court deliberates whether to approve his removal after a vote in favor of the move in the National Assembly last month.
The court held its first formal hearing on Yoon’s impeachment on Tuesday, but the session lasted only four minutes because the suspended president was not present, citing concerns for his personal safety.
Efforts by the IOC and police to detain Yoon for questioning are linked to a separate criminal proceeding related to the failed imposition of martial law.
Yoon’s lawyers have insisted that the IOC does not have standing to pursue criminal insurrection charges against him, warning last week that an attempt by police to break into the grounds of the president could provoke a “civil war”.
