SEOUL – South Korean investigators suspended their attempt to detain President Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday over his brief declaration of martial law after an hours-long standoff with the presidential security service at the entrance to his residence.
“We tried to execute a detention warrant this morning, but it was deemed effectively impossible to proceed due to the ongoing standoff,” a joint investigation team with the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials said in a briefing with reporters, adding that future actions will be decided after a review.
The team said they had to suspend the operation due to safety concerns, as about 300 people — roughly 100 investigators and 200 members of the presidential security service — were gathered in the narrow aisle in front of the residence gate.
“We express deep regret over the suspect’s attitude in not complying with the lawful procedure,” the investigators said.
The detention warrant, valid until Monday, was issued after Yoon ignored three summonses from the investigators on charges of insurrection over the declaration of martial law on Dec. 3, which led to the passage of a motion to impeach Yoon on Dec. 14.
Yoon’s defense team has maintained that the warrant is illegal, asserting the investigation office is not authorized to probe insurrection.
“Legal action will be taken regarding the unlawful circumstances of the execution process of the illegal warrant,” the defense team said in a message sent to media on Friday.
Kwon Young Se, head of the ruling People Power Party’s emergency committee, said the corruption investigation office’s attempt to execute the warrant was “highly unfair” and “extremely overreaching.”
“While it is fortunate that the attempt was suspended, I firmly believe such actions should never occur again,” Kwon added.
The biggest opposition Democratic Party’s floor leader, Park Chan Dae, expressed deep regret over the fact that the execution was halted, calling for the investigators to detain Yoon immediately.
BY: The Times Union
