Clashes erupt as investigators attempt arrest of impeached S. Korean President Yoon
People gather inside the barricade blocking the road leading to the residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul, S. Korea, Jan. 15, 2025. (AFP Photo)
South Korean investigators made a renewed attempt on Wednesday to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over a failed martial law bid, but faced clashes after being blocked by his security guards.
Yoon, suspended from duty by lawmakers, has resisted arrest since the December 3 power grab, where he ordered soldiers to storm parliament in an attempt to stop a vote against him. The move plunged South Korea into its worst political crisis in decades. If apprehended, Yoon would be the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested.
“The execution of the presidential arrest warrant has begun,” acting President Choi Sang-mok said in a statement, emphasizing the importance of maintaining law and order.
On Wednesday morning, a joint team from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) and police clashed with personnel at Yoon’s residence. Investigators tried to force entry, resulting in physical altercations, with one person collapsing during the standoff.
‘Illegal warrant’
Thousands of Yoon’s supporters gathered outside the residence, chanting “illegal warrant!” while waving South Korean and American flags. Police removed them as the situation escalated, and investigators sought alternative entry points.
Yoon’s legal team continues to protest the warrant, while his impeachment trial progresses without his attendance.
