The failed attempt to arrest the president of South Korea explained

After a six-hour standoff with security, South Korean police stopped an attempt to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The 150 police officers involved found themselves unable to do anything but count – first the large number of Yoon’s fans who had gathered outside his house before sunrise, then the wall of security personnel inside the premises.

The police were trying to execute an arrest warrant released earlier this week after Yoon ignored the three summons to appear for investigation.

The politician is currently being investigated for abusing his power and inciting rebellion when he tried to impose martial law in early December.

Dozens of police vans lined the road outside Yoon’s house in central Seoul on Friday morning, before the arrest team – made up of police and members of the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) – began moving into the building around 08:00 local time. time (23:00 GMT).

The operation started with a group of 20 people, but quickly grew to about 150 people. Even then there were few.

Although about half of the group managed to get inside, they were trapped for hours in a tussle with the president’s security officers – who are still responsible for protecting Yoon, despite being stripped of his powers – and the military unit responsible for protecting the city. in Seoul.

At one point, Yoon’s security team clashed with “detectives,” an official at the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul told news agency AFP.

“We have decided that an arrest is not possible,” said the CIO, which was investigating Yoon’s temporary martial law declaration last month.

Had they succeeded, Yoon would have become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be imprisoned.

Yoon’s “refusal of the legal process” is “very regrettable”, the CIO said, adding that the next steps will be decided after the review.

Yoon’s supporters who have been camping in front of the president’s house for days were happy with song and dance as his suspension was announced. “We won!” they sang. Others held signs reading “Stop the Steal” – a rallying cry used by US President Donald Trump’s supporters after he lost the 2020 election.

The CIO said that concern for the safety of the team on the ground was what influenced their decision to call off the arrest attempt.

The presidential security branch said it will arrest the CIO and the police for breaking into the law, saying the team has harmed their employees.

This development is not unexpected, given Yoon’s disdain throughout the investigation process.

Experts say that as a former chief prosecutor, Yoon is well aware of the legal loopholes that exist to protect him.

Investigators have until January 6 to arrest him before the deadline expires.

This means that they may try to arrest Yoon again over the weekend, although this may prove to be a challenge as the crowds can be overwhelming.

They can also apply for a new warrant and try to lock him up again.

Before the attempt was called off, Yoon’s security team told the media that they were “negotiating” with investigators seeking access to the president.

The police charged the head of Yoon’s security division and his deputy with criminal charges, and called them in for questioning, according to Yonhap.

Yoon’s legal team was also seen entering the residence late in the afternoon.

His lawyer Yoon Gab-keun earlier said they would take legal action against the warrant, saying investigators did not have the authority to detain him.

Meanwhile, Park Chan-dae, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, criticized Yoon for not supporting his leadership. He promised to take legal and political responsibility for his failed attempt at martial law.

“[It was] a complete lie,” Park said, urging the CIO to try to arrest Yoon again today.

The CIO, which has only been in place for four years, was created in response to public anger at former president Park Geun-hye and her extremism. He was impeached in parliament in December 2016, and removed from office three months later.

The extent of the CIO’s authority, however, has been challenged by other agencies – and its failure to deal with Yoon could be seen as an embarrassing loss.

South Korea has been in political turmoil since martial law was attempted on December 3, sparking a rift in parliament between Yoon’s loyalists and those who want to remove him from office.

The days and nights of protests culminated in the opposition-dominated parliament voting to impeach Yoon on December 14, their second attempt to do so after most members of his ruling party boycotted the first vote.

Two weeks later, parliament voted to remove him from office, acting president Han Duck-soo – the first time that an acting president has been removed from office since South Korea became a democracy.

Han was supposed to lead the country through its political turmoil, but opposition MPs say he is rejecting demands to complete Yoon’s impeachment plan.

On Friday, prosecutors also charged treason against Park An-su, who was appointed military chief during the short notice, and special forces commander Kwak Jong-geun, according to Seoul-based Yonhap news agency.

They must face the crime in prison.

Additional reporting by Jake Kwon in Seoul