Authorities in South Korea are attempting to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol amid ongoing investigations into his martial law declaration
They’ve got a serious operation going on, with over a thousand investigators and police ready to roll. Yoon’s been hiding out in his residence for weeks, claiming his martial law was a necessary move against an “anti-state” opposition that’s been blocking his plans. He’s even said he’ll “fight to the end” to stay in power.
The anti-corruption agency and police are looking into whether Yoon’s martial law declaration was an attempted rebellion. They’re not backing down after their first attempt to get him on January 3 was blocked by his security team.
After a long standoff at the gate, some officers managed to get closer to Yoon’s building. They even used ladders to get over buses that were set up as a barricade. It was a bit of a scene, with police trying to figure out how to get in while Yoon’s lawyers were negotiating for him to come out voluntarily.
As of Wednesday morning, Yoon hadn’t been detained yet. His lawyers were in talks with the anti-corruption agency, but it’s unclear if they’ll agree to let him come in for questioning. There’s a court warrant out for his arrest, but his security team is insisting they have to protect him.
Tensions are high, and the acting leader of South Korea has called for everyone to keep things calm and avoid any physical confrontations. Meanwhile, there are protests outside his residence, with supporters on one side and critics on the other, all while police are keeping a close watch.
Yoon’s Chief of Staff even asked law enforcement to back off, suggesting they could question him elsewhere. But one of Yoon’s lawyers said that wasn’t discussed with them, and they don’t have plans to make him available just yet.
If they do manage to detain him, they’ll need to get a court’s permission for a formal arrest. Otherwise, he’ll be out in 48 hours. Yoon hasn’t left his residence in weeks, and the security team has been blocking investigators from getting to him.
The police have been meeting up to strategize their next steps, and it looks like they’re gearing up for a long operation. Yoon declared martial law back on December 3, but it was lifted quickly after lawmakers pushed through. Now, with his impeachment hanging in the balance, the Constitutional Court is deciding his fate.
In the past, Yoon’s security team had help from troops guarding the residence, but now they’re stepping back and just focusing on perimeter security. It’s a tense situation, and everyone’s watching closely to see what happens next.
