The home of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yul is surrounded by authorities executing the arrest warrant
As the situation developed, South Korea’s acting President Choi Sang-mook warned government authorities against using violence.
“All the people and the international community are watching this,” he said in a statement. “We cannot tolerate physical violence for any purpose because it will irreparably damage people’s confidence and our international reputation.”
“I will hold those responsible strictly if unfortunate events occur.”
The new arrest attempt comes after an initial failed attempt on January 3, which resulted in a confrontation that lasted for more than a week between investigators and the Preventive Security Service, which formed a defensive weight around Yoon, helping to barricade him inside the headquarters.
Yoon’s supporters chant slogans during a march in Seoul opposing his impeachment.credit: AP
On Friday, the head of the Preventive Security Service resigned after being questioned by police over allegations of obstruction of public duty for his role in preventing investigators from arresting Yoon.
Yoon has been suspended from his presidential duties since he was impeached by the opposition-dominated parliament on December 14 in response to his failed attempt to impose martial law.
Instability continues
The martial law decree, which Yoon ordered out of frustration with the opposition thwarting his political agenda and blocking budget legislation, shocked the country and plunged it into its worst political crisis in decades. This was the first time South Korea was under military rule since it transitioned to democracy in the late 1980s.
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Yoon withdrew the decree hours later after Parliament voted to reject it, and angry demonstrators took to the streets. But the instability has continued for more than a month, exacerbated by Yoon’s refusal to cooperate with authorities and opposition lawmakers’ move to impeach acting President Han Dak-soo, just two weeks after he took over from Yoon.
Video footage showed Yoon’s lawyer, Yoon Kap Keun, on Wednesday morning speaking to black-uniformed investigating officials in front of Yoon’s compound.
Yoon’s lawyers asserted that the arrest warrant was illegal because it was issued by a court in the wrong jurisdiction, and the team formed to investigate him did not have a legal mandate to do so.
Oh Dong-won, head of the Information Technology Bureau leading the investigation, said authorities would do whatever it takes to arrest Yoon.
With agencies
