The authorities announced the impossibility of executing the arrest warrant targeting President Yoon Suk-yeol due to the presence of the army and his bodyguards.
THE South Korean investigators don't have unable to execute arrest warrant for President Yoon Suk-yeoldismissed and suspended from office in December, announced the Anti-Corruption Office dedicated to high-ranking officials (CIO).
Yoon Suk-yeol, who imposed martial law in early December before retracting, is targeted by a criminal investigation for accusations of attempted insurrection.
IOC officials arrived outside Yoon Suk-yeol's residence at 7 a.m. Friday (10 p.m. GMT Thursday), and waited before entering the property on foot. They then found themselves facing members of the presidential security service as well as members of the army, according to media reports.
Operation failed
The IOC decided to end the operation around 1:30 p.m., citing fears about the safety of its employees and saying it “deeply regrets” Yoon Suk-yeol's attitude. “It was considered practically impossible to execute the arrest warrant due to the situation,” the IOC said in a statement.
An arrest warrant was issued Tuesday against Yoon Suk-yeol, the latter having failed to respond to multiple summons from investigators seeking to question him about his decision to impose martial law. This arrest warrant is valid until January 6.
The IOC clarified on Friday that it would examine the situation before deciding on the course of action.
Hundreds of Yoon Suk-yeol's supporters gathered outside his residence shortly before dawn, vowing to prevent any arrest of the ousted president.
