A tense standoff unfolded on Wednesday at South Korea’s presidential residence as investigators attempted to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The operation, led by officials from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) and police, aimed to execute search and detention warrants tied to Yoon’s brief imposition of martial law in December 2024, Yonhap News Agency reported.
Upon arrival, investigators were met with resistance from the Presidential Security Service (PSS), which had erected barricades using vehicles to block entry. Lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party and Yoon’s legal team also joined the blockade at the residence’s entrance, intensifying the standoff.
Police issued warnings via loudspeakers, cautioning that resistance to the execution of warrants could result in arrests. Outside the residence, approximately 6,500 supporters of Yoon gathered in protest, according to police estimates. To manage the situation and gain entry, authorities deployed around 3,000 officers to the scene.
The Seoul Western District Court issued arrest warrants for Yoon after he failed to comply with three summonses to appear for questioning over his controversial attempt to impose martial law on December 3, 2024. These warrants, initially set to expire, were extended last week and remain valid until January 21, 2025.
Yoon’s martial law attempt sparked widespread condemnation, ultimately leading to his impeachment by the National Assembly in December 2024. The impeachment vote, conducted via secret ballot, saw 204 lawmakers voting in favor, 85 opposing, and three abstaining. Eight votes were deemed invalid. The motion required a two-thirds majority in the 300-member assembly and succeeded with overwhelming support.
Following his impeachment, Yoon was suspended from office, leaving South Korea in a state of political uncertainty. His attempt to impose martial law, which many viewed as an overreach of power, remains at the center of the legal and political turmoil surrounding his presidency.
As the situation continues to escalate, the standoff underscores the deep divisions within South Korea’s political landscape and the challenges of holding a former president accountable for alleged abuses of power.
