Tense Stand-Off in Seoul: Presidential Guards Block Arrest
of Impeached Yoon Suk Yeol
South Korea witnessed a dramatic six-hour standoff on Friday
as presidential guards and military troops blocked authorities from arresting
impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The confrontation occurred at Yoon's
residence in central Seoul and marked a significant escalation in the political
crisis surrounding the embattled leader.
Yoon faces criminal charges of insurrection for his December
3 martial law bid, which shocked the nation and led to the first arrest warrant
ever issued for a sitting president. Despite efforts by the Corruption
Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) and police, Yoon's
security forces successfully resisted the arrest attempt.
Arriving at the compound gates at 7 a.m., CIO officials and
police maneuvered through hundreds of Yoon supporters chanting “Stop the
Steal,” a slogan reminiscent of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s contested
election claims. Inside the compound, they encountered over 200 heavily armed
Presidential Security Service (PSS) personnel and seconded military troops.
While the PSS agents carried firearms, no weapons were drawn during the tense
standoff.
Yoon, suspended from power since his impeachment on December
14, remained out of sight throughout the encounter. The CIO called off the
arrest attempt at 1:30 p.m., citing safety concerns for its personnel. The
agency expressed regret over Yoon’s non-compliance and vowed to consider its
next steps.
The investigation has now shifted focus to PSS leadership,
with the agency’s chief and deputy summoned for questioning over obstruction of
official duty. Legal experts suggest this tactic may weaken the PSS’s ability
to resist future arrest attempts.
In response, Yoon’s legal team denounced the arrest effort
as unlawful, arguing the CIO lacks authority to investigate insurrection
charges. They also warned police against supporting the operation and filed
criminal complaints against media outlets for unauthorized filming of the secured
presidential residence.
The arrest warrant remains valid until January 6, leaving
investigators with limited time to act. Meanwhile, calls grow for acting
President Choi Sang-mok to intervene and order the PSS to cooperate with the
investigation.
The political standoff underscores South Korea’s challenges
in holding its highest office accountable while maintaining national security.
