South Korea’s suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol has evaded arrest after a dramatic six-hour standoff with security forces at his residence in Seoul. The attempt to detain him was called off due to safety concerns and the “effective impossibility” of executing the arrest warrant.
A team of 150 officers, including police and members of the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), had arrived at Yoon’s residence to carry out an arrest warrant issued earlier in the week. However, they were met with resistance from a large number of pro-Yoon supporters gathered outside and a human wall of security staff inside the property.
Yoon is currently under investigation for abusing his power and inciting an insurrection when he tried to impose martial law in early December. The CIO has expressed regret over Yoon’s refusal to cooperate with the legal process, stating that next steps will be decided after a review.
The attempted arrest has sparked celebrations among Yoon’s supporters, who chanted “We won!” and carried “Stop the Steal” signs. The presidential security service has vowed to hold the CIO and police accountable for trespassing, alleging that some of their staff members were injured during the standoff.
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