On Wednesday, South Korean investigators made a renewed attempt to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol, intensifying the political turmoil in the nation. Television footage captured investigators entering the presidential residence in a dramatic confrontation that unfolded in the early hours.
Police officers and investigators from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials and the National Office of Investigation broke through the first and second cordons of buses surrounding the residence. Utilizing ladders to overcome barriers, they faced off against Yoon’s supporters, lawmakers from the ruling conservative People Power Party, and the president’s defense counsel.
The standoff lasted over two hours, marking the second attempt this month by authorities to apprehend the embattled president. Tensions escalated as local media reported “physical clashes” between the investigators and the presidential security service. Police issued warnings that any resistance to executing the arrest warrant could result in additional arrests.
“The execution of the presidential arrest warrant has begun,” acting President Choi Sang-mok declared in a statement on Wednesday, signaling the government’s determination to proceed with the legal process.
Yoon’s lawyer, Seok Dong-hyeon, took to social media, indicating that negotiations were underway for the president to voluntarily appear before investigators. He expressed concern over the “risk of a serious situation” arising from the confrontation between rival forces.
Despite the defense team’s request, South Korean investigators indicated they were not considering a voluntary meeting and were focused on executing the arrest warrant. According to Yonhap News Agency, the authorities remain steadfast in their pursuit of Yoon’s arrest.
The unfolding events have plunged South Korea into political uncertainty, as the nation grapples with the implications of arresting a sitting president. The situation continues to evolve, with the potential to significantly impact the country’s political landscape and its standing on the global stage.
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S. Korean investigators move again to arrest impeached President Yoon
cgtn.com
