A total failure. South Korean investigators unsuccessfully attempted Friday to arrest ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol at his Seoul residence for his failed attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3.
For nearly six hours, prosecutors and agents from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is centralizing the investigation into “rebellion” opened against Yoon Suk Yeol, remained inside the presidential residence, in the heights of the chic Hannam district. They ended up leaving around 1:40 p.m. (4:30 a.m. French time), empty-handed.
Path blocked by minibuses
Around 20 IOC investigators assisted by 80 police officers took part in the operation, but came up against some 200 soldiers and agents of the presidential security service, who formed a human wall holding each other's arms to prevent them from passing through, explained an IOC official.
The president's security forces had previously blocked the access route using around ten minibuses and other vehicles, but investigators still managed to enter the property “by taking a circuitous path at hillside,” said this official during a press briefing.
Physical altercations
“There were minor and major physical altercations” between the two camps, he continued, specifying that no member of his team had seen Yoon Suk Yeol during the raid. “Forcing passage was not realistically possible, as the number of people gathered there was significantly greater than our team,” he added. “Due to serious security concerns, the execution has been suspended.”
The presidential security service, which continues to protect Yoon Suk Yeol as acting head of state, had already prevented several searches by investigators at the deposed president's home in recent days. Hastily arriving at the presidential residence on Friday morning, Yoon Suk Yeol's team of lawyers once again denounced an “illegal and invalid” arrest warrant.
An arrest warrant to be executed before January 6
“Regarding the execution of the arrest warrant today, it was determined that it was materially impossible due to the continuing impasse,” the IOC said in a statement. “Concerns for the safety of on-site personnel led to the decision to halt the execution,” he added.
The IOC has until January 6 to execute the arrest warrant issued by a Seoul court at its request on Tuesday. An arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol, who officially remains the head of state and is only suspended pending confirmation by the Constitutional Court of his dismissal by mid-June, would be unprecedented in the history of the South Korea.
Still officially the head of state
Yoon Suk Yeol stunned South Korea on the night of December 3 to 4 by imposing martial law and sending the army to Parliament to try to muzzle him, an episode that reminded the country of the dark hours of the military dictatorship .
He was forced to backtrack a few hours later, when MPs managed to enter Parliament and pass a motion demanding the lifting of martial law while their aides blocked the chamber doors with furniture and thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered outside.
