Police officers and staff from South Korea’s anti-corruption agency made another attempt with a large contingent to gain access to the residence of suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol on Wednesday morning, the official Yonhap news agency reported.
Numerous supporters of Yoon gathered early in the morning in front of the house.
The Constitutional Court postponed the first hearing in the impeachment proceedings against Yoon the previous day because he was not present. The 64-year-old, through his lawyer, stated that he did not attend due to security concerns.
Yoon is currently at his residence, which is shielded by high walls and barbed wire.
Yoon was supposed to be arrested, but the arresting forces from the police and the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) faced the military security service, which guards the residence and prevented access with a barricade, Yonhap reported.
The Defence Ministry earlier denied that the military unit had granted access, Yonhap reported. A week ago, an attempt to arrest Yoon had already failed.
After Yoon briefly declared martial law on December 3 during a budget dispute with the opposition, the parliament voted for his impeachment.
In the coming weeks, the Constitutional Court plans to examine this decision.
The CIO is also investigating Yoon, in addition to the ongoing impeachment proceedings, for abuse of power and sedition.
Police officers gather in front of the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, after police and the anti-corruption agency began their second attempt to execute a warrant to detain Yoon in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law. -/YNA/dpa
Police officers gather in front of the official residence of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, after police and the anti-corruption agency began their second attempt to execute a warrant to detain Yoon in connection to his short-lived imposition of martial law. -/YNA/dpa
