The Republic of Korea’s (ROK) police abandoned an attempt to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol after a six-hour standoff at his residence in central Seoul on Friday, according to the BBC.
Despite mobilizing 150 officers, pro-Yoon supporters and his personal security outnumbered the authorities, which blocked their efforts.
Police sought to carry out an arrest warrant issued earlier this week after Yeol ignored three summons’ for his questioning over allegations of abuse of power and inciting insurrection during his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024.
Unprecedented Resistance
The operation began with 20 officers and later expanded to 150, but only half managed to enter the residence. Inside, they encountered a standoff with Yeol’s presidential security team and a military unit responsible for Seoul’s protection. The security team, still officially tasked with guarding Yeol despite his suspension, engaged in a confrontation with the officers.
If successful, Yeol would have been the first sitting president in ROK’s history to be arrested. The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which led the operation, expressed regret over Yeol’s defiance and called on the acting president to intervene, saying the arrest was “practically impossible” as long as security forces stood guard.
Political and Legal Fallout
Pro-Yoon supporters celebrated the operation’s suspension, chanting “We won!” and carrying signs that echoed slogans from the US. protests following the 2020 election. Meanwhile, the presidential security service accused police of trespassing and injuring their staff during the attempted arrest.
Investigators face a tight deadline, as the current warrant expires on January 6. They may either try to arrest Yeol again over the weekend or seek a new warrant. Meanwhile, police have opened a criminal case against the chief of Yeol’s security service and his deputy, summoning them for questioning.
Broader Political Crisis
ROK has been in turmoil since Yeol’s martial law attempt on December 3. The opposition-dominated parliament then impeached Yeol on December 14, following protests and deep divisions in parliament. However, the political crisis deepened when lawmakers later impeached acting President Han Duck-soo, leaving the country in further disarray.
Prosecutors indicted army chief Park An-su and special forces commander Kwak Jong-geun on insurrection charges, on Friday. Both face trial, in the meantime they remain in custody.
The CIO’s inability to arrest Yeol could be a blow to its credibility, underscoring the challenges of holding high-ranking officials accountable in a politically polarized environment. The outcome of this standoff may further shape ROK’s political landscape as the nation grapples with the fallout from Yeol’s controversial martial law declaration.