South Korean Police Calls Off Attempt To Arrest Suspended Prez Yoon After Six Hours Of Standoff

Seoul: After a six-hour long standoff between the security team of suspended South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, and police, the attempt to arrest the leader was called off.

“We’ve determined that the arrest is practically impossible,” the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), said, as quoted by the BBC. The CIO has been investigating Yoon’s short-lived martial law declaration last month.

The probe agency further stated that Yoon’s “refusal of the legal process” was “deeply regrettable”. The agency would decide the next course of action after a review meet.

Yoon’s supporters cheered as the suspension of the arrest was announced. They shouted: ‘We won.’ They had been camped out in front of the presidential residence for days. The CIO said they called off the arrest attempt to ensure the safety of the team.

Over the past two weeks, Yoon had already ignored three summonses issued for him to appear for questioning. This led a Seoul court to issue a warrant for his arrest. As a former chief prosecutor, Yoon, is aware of the legal loopholes, experts opined.

Investigators can arrest him till Jan 6 after which the warrant will expire. They can also apply for a new warrant. Early on Friday morning, dozens of police vans had lined the street outside Yoon’s residence in central Seoul. A 20-member arrest team, comprising police officers and CIO members, had marched towards his premises. But the team was soon outnumbered by the security team member of Yoon.

The military and security service officers formed a human wall and used vehicles to block the arrest team’s way, according to South Korean media.