SEOUL – South Korea’s political situation reached a new level of turmoil on Saturday as President Yoon Suk Yeol resisted arrest over a controversial martial law decree, just days before the warrant for his arrest was set to expire.
In dramatic scenes on Friday, Yoon’s presidential guards and military personnel prevented investigators from arresting him. The authorities eventually called off their attempt, citing safety concerns. Yoon, who was impeached and suspended last month after a failed martial law declaration—later overturned by parliament—faces separate charges with a warrant for his arrest.
“There was a standoff. We estimated the number of personnel blocking us at around 200, though it could have been more,” an official from the investigation team said on Friday, requesting anonymity. “It was a dangerous situation.”
Yoon is facing insurrection charges, one of the few crimes not protected by presidential immunity. If convicted, he could face prison time or even the death penalty. Should the arrest take place, Yoon would become the first sitting president in South Korean history to be detained.
Since his impeachment, Yoon has remained inside his official residence in Seoul, where he has defied questioning on three separate occasions.
The high-stakes standoff, which included clashes but no gunfire, left the arrest attempt in limbo, with the court-ordered warrant set to expire on Monday. Officials from the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO), which is investigating Yoon’s martial law decree, may try again to arrest him before the deadline or apply for a new warrant if it lapses.
The Constitutional Court has scheduled Yoon’s impeachment trial to begin on January 14. If he refuses to attend, the trial could proceed without his presence, as was the case with former presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye.
Yoon’s legal team condemned Friday’s arrest attempt, calling it “unlawful” and vowing to pursue legal action. Additionally, two senior officials from Yoon’s presidential security service refused to attend questioning on Saturday, citing concerns over his safety.
Legal experts suggest investigators may wait for stronger legal grounds before attempting another arrest. “It may be difficult to carry out the arrest until the Constitutional Court rules on the impeachment and removes him from office,” said Chae Jin-won of Kyung Hee University.
Reports indicate that the CIO intended to arrest Yoon and bring him to their office in Gwacheon near Seoul for questioning. If they had succeeded, Yoon could have been held for up to 48 hours under the current warrant, after which investigators would need to apply for a new arrest warrant to extend his detention.
Despite the mounting pressure, Yoon has remained defiant, telling his supporters that he would fight “to the very end” for his political survival.
When the investigators attempted to arrest Yoon, his compound was heavily guarded by hundreds of security personnel. About 20 investigators and 80 police officers were outnumbered by around 200 soldiers and security staff, resulting in a tense six-hour standoff before the authorities withdrew.
On Friday, the investigators stated that they would seek approval from Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok, the acting president, to back the arrest warrant.
The ongoing political unrest has raised concerns about South Korea’s stability. The United States, a key ally, has called on the country’s political leaders to seek a “stable path” forward.
