Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president of South Korea, is unsuccessfully arrested and is left in a standoff

Amid protests and a security standoff, attempts to arrest South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached due to the proclamation of martial law, are unsuccessful.

Following a heated standoff at his presidential complex on Friday, South Korean authorities were unable to apprehend impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. The unsuccessful attempt at arrest came after Yoon’s contentious proclamation of martial law on December 3, which has sparked intense criticism and demonstrations.

Early on Friday, Yoon supporters gathered outside the presidential palace, and by daybreak, their numbers had increased to hundreds. The crowd formed a strong barrier for officers from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking officers (CIO), vowing to thwart any effort at arrest.

Police and CIO officials walked inside the premises just after 7 a.m. local time. Military personnel assigned to the presidential security detail and cordons of the Presidential Security Service (PSS) greeted them inside. The Ministry of National Defense claimed that PSS command was in charge of the troops.

Following hours of discussions, the CIO canceled the arrest effort at 1:30 p.m., stating that the obstruction posed a safety risk to its staff.

The CIO said it “deeply regretted” Yoon’s reluctance to cooperate and said it was “judged that it was virtually impossible to execute the arrest warrant due to the ongoing standoff.”

Yoon’s arrest order, which was granted by a court on Tuesday after he disregarded many requests to be questioned, is still in effect until January 6. It allows detectives to hold him for up to 48 hours, during which time they must determine whether to release him or get a detention order.

Without providing any details, Yoon’s attorney denounced the arrest attempt, claiming the warrant was void and threatened legal action.

The CIO has declared that it will assess the circumstances in order to decide on potential next steps. The bungled arrest’s political and legal repercussions could further polarize South Korea as time runs out and emotions rise.

Despite its briefness, the proclamation of martial law has had a lasting impact on Yoon’s presidency, igniting debate and widening national divides. The investigation’s conclusion and any subsequent attempts to detain Yoon might have a big impact on South Korea’s political climate.