the attempted arrest of President Yoon Suk Yeol obstructed by his security services and the military

South Korea is sinking further into political and judicial confusion, after the thunderclap caused by President Yoon Suk Yeol during his failed attempt, at the beginning of December 2024, to impose martial law in the country , which has now earned him the subject of an arrest warrant.

“Execution of the arrest warrant against President Yoon Suk Yeol has begun”announced on Friday January 3 morning, the Office of Investigation into Corruption of Senior Personalities (CIO), which is centralizing the investigation for “rebellion” against the head of state. But according to the South Korean agency Yonhap, investigators were first “blocked by a military unit inside”. After having succeeded in crossing the dam, they then had to “confront the security service” presidential office, which had already prevented several searches at Mr. Yoon's home in recent days, citing a law on state secrets.

Journalists from Agence France-Presse (AFP) had previously seen one of the IOC prosecutors accompanied by several other people cross the imposing security barrier set up in front of the presidential residence around 8 a.m. local time (1 a.m. in Paris).

An “illegal” arrest attempt, according to the president’s lawyer

The IOC, which is centralizing investigations into the presidential coup of December 3, has until January 6 to execute the arrest warrant issued by a Seoul court at its request. “The execution of this arrest warrant is illegal and invalid”said, for his part, the leader's lawyer, Yoon Kap-keun, announcing a new legal action to block this execution, in addition to those he has already filed to contest the validity of the mandate itself.

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 South Korea.

It remains unclear which army unit physically opposed Mr. Yoon's arrest on Friday. In recent weeks, members of his security service had already blocked attempts to search the presidential residence. IOC chief Oh Dong-woon warned that anyone who tried to prevent Mr. Yoon's arrest could face prosecution themselves.

Hundreds of Mr. Yoon's diehard supporters, including well-known far-right YouTubers and evangelical Christian preachers, camped near the presidential residence overnight from Thursday to Friday, with some holding all-night prayer sessions. « Yoon Suk Yeol! Yoon Suk Yeol! », they chanted while waving red light sticks, monitored by the police present in large numbers. According to the Yonhap agency, some 2,700 police officers were deployed in the area, after clashes between supporters and detractors of the ousted president the previous evening.

Yoon Suk Yeol vows to 'fight until the end'

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 doors of the Hemicycle with furniture and thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators gathered outside.

The 64-year-old former star prosecutor has shown no contrition since his dismissal by Parliament on December 14, even swearing to “fight until the end” in a letter distributed to his supporters. “The Republic of Korea is currently in danger due to internal and external forces threatening its sovereignty, and the activities of anti-state elements”he wrote.

The Democratic Party, the main opposition force, described these remarks as “delusional”. “It's been a month since the country became a complete wreck due to the illegal declaration of martial law on December 3, but Mr. Yoon's message to his supporters shows that he has not the slightest sense of remorse or responsibility »said Friday in an editorial in the major right-wing daily Dong-A Ilbo. “President Yoon's behavior, relying on his most extremist supporters, is beyond embarrassing. It is reaching deplorable levels”adds the newspaper.

Presidential powers are now in the hands of Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok after Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who held the interim presidency, was in turn dismissed by Parliament. Since then, Mr. Choi has partially acceded to an opposition request by appointing two new judges to the Constitutional Court, three of whose nine seats are vacant. This court must rule by a two-thirds majority to confirm the dismissal of the president, otherwise he will automatically return to his chair.