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South Korean investigators have abandoned their attempt to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol after an hours-long stand off at his residence in Seoul.
Officials had sought his arrest as part of a probe into alleged treason and abuse of power after his failed bid last month to impose martial law.
Investigators from the independent anti-corruption agency and police officers had passed a military unit guarding Yoon’s compound in central Seoul early on Friday. But the head of the Presidential Security Service did not allow them to search Yoon’s residence.
“It is impossible to execute the arrest warrant because of the continued stand-off, so we’ve stopped the execution, being worried about the safety of our investigators at the scene,” the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials said on Friday.
“We express grave regret over the defendant’s attitude that did not co-operate with legal proceedings. We will decide next steps after reviewing [the situation].” Investigators and police officers were shown leaving Yoon’s compound on TV.
Yoon’s lawyers called the arrest attempt “illegal and invalid” and said they would take legal action against the move. The president’s security force said they acted “according to legal procedures” in stopping the arrest. Hundreds of Yoon’s supporters rallied outside his residence, shouting “impeachment invalid” and “protect Yoon”.
Yoon unleashed an acute political crisis in South Korea with his failed effort to impose martial law. He was impeached by parliament last month, but the move has to be approved by the country’s Constitutional Court. If arrested, Yoon would be the first incumbent South Korean president to be detained.
The anti-corruption agency wants to question Yoon over possible insurrection after he allegedly dispatched troops to the National Assembly in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from rejecting his shortlived martial law decree.
A court issued the arrest warrant this week after Yoon refused to answer repeated summons for questioning. The warrant expires on Monday.
The main opposition Democratic Party called on the anti-corruption agency to try to arrest Yoon again, while the ruling People Power party described the agency’s attempt to arrest Yoon as an “unfair act that abused its power” and should not be repeated.
Opposition politicians also urged acting president Choi Sang-mok to order Yoon’s security forces chief to co-operate with investigators.
The “law should apply equally to everyone”, said Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic party. “Not all people should be sacrificed because of someone’s egotism or a group’s special interests.”
Under South Korea’s constitution, the president is immune from criminal prosecution, except when facing allegations of rebellion or treason.
The Constitutional Court’s eight sitting justices will hold a second hearing on Friday on whether to remove Yoon from office. The court has until June to reach a verdict, though this deadline can be extended. A minimum six votes are required to approve Yoon’s impeachment. If he is removed from office, a presidential election must be held within 60 days.
The political turmoil has weighed on South Korea’s economy, which is facing the prospect of higher US tariffs from Donald Trump’s second term in the White House. The government on Thursday revised down this year’s growth forecast to 1.8 per cent from 2.2 per cent and is considering drawing up an extra budget to boost sluggish domestic consumption.
Choi on Friday ordered officials to take measures to stabilise financial markets “swiftly and boldly” in case of heightened volatility.
South Korea’s stocks and currency were among the worst performers in Asia last year, in part because of the political chaos, with the Kospi stock index down nearly 10 per cent and the won trading near its lowest level since 2009. The Kospi jumped 2.3 per cent on Friday afternoon.
The Democratic party plans to summon Yoon to a parliamentary hearing next week and seek to appoint special counsels to investigate his martial law gambit.
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