South Korea’s Unprecedented Standoff: Police Attempt to Arrest Impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol

AFP | South Korea

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In a scene that unfolded before dawn, a tense standoff broke out as South Korean police attempted to arrest impeached president Yoon Suk Yeol. By the time we arrived, a large contingent of officers had already been deployed to push back Yoon’s angry supporters, who had camped outside his residence overnight, determined to prevent the arrest. Among them, many were visibly distraught, some crying, others wailing, as they feared what was about to transpire.

As the first light of dawn crept in, officers rushed toward Yoon’s compound, only to be met with fierce resistance. A wall of soldiers, stationed to protect the compound, blocked their path. Additional reinforcements arrived, but their efforts proved futile. The doors to the residence remained firmly shut, with Yoon’s security team refusing the police entry.

For hours, investigators waited as the crowds outside grew increasingly restless. Eventually, after a series of tense scuffles between police and Yoon’s security, authorities decided to abandon their efforts. The arrest, it seemed, would not be happening.

This is uncharted territory for South Korea. The nation is witnessing the unprecedented scenario of a sitting president facing arrest, a situation that leaves officials without a rulebook. The current crisis raises alarming questions about authority and control.

Yoon, who was impeached three weeks ago, was officially stripped of his powers. However, the situation at hand - with law enforcement attempting an arrest despite having a legal warrant, only to be blocked by Yoon’s loyal security forces - has left many wondering who is truly in charge.

Investigators admitted they halted the operation not only because it seemed impossible but also due to safety concerns. Yoon’s security team, consisting of 200 soldiers and security officers, formed a human barricade outside the residence, some of them carrying firearms. This apparent power play raises concerns about Yoon’s control, leveraging a system he helped build. Just last month, Yoon declared martial law, a plan that had been in the works for months, positioning close allies in key roles to safeguard his power.

This includes his current head of security, appointed in September, who has remained a staunch protector of the former president.

Despite the alarming nature of this confrontation, Yoon’s refusal to cooperate with authorities is not surprising. He has consistently ignored requests for questioning in the ongoing investigation into charges of inciting an insurrection, a crime punishable by life imprisonment or death.

The situation reached a boiling point as authorities, unable to arrest Yoon through normal means, felt compelled to act forcibly. Yoon has also continued to rally his supporters, who have gathered in increasing numbers outside his residence since the arrest warrant was issued. On New Year’s Day, he sent a letter to his followers, thanking them for their dedication in defending both him and the nation. While many in South Korea remain angered by his imposition of martial law, a committed core of supporters has remained steadfast, with some even braving freezing temperatures overnight to block police entry.

Many of Yoon’s supporters voiced their readiness to die for him, echoing conspiracy theories that Yoon himself has propagated, including claims that last year’s election was rigged and that pro-North Korean forces have infiltrated the country. They carried signs reading “Stop the Steal,” a slogan they chanted repeatedly.

The spotlight now shifts to South Korea's acting president, Choi Sang-mok, and whether he can and should take action against Yoon’s security chief, forcing the team to allow the arrest. The opposition party is calling for the arrest of anyone obstructing the law.

With the arrest warrant set to expire on 6 January, investigators have a limited window to act. However, it is unlikely they will attempt another operation without altering their approach or negotiating with Yoon’s security team beforehand to avoid another failure.

As Yoon’s supporters grow more emboldened, their numbers are expected to swell further as the weekend approaches. They believe their efforts have forced the authorities to back down, and they’ve already started celebrating, chanting: “We’ve won, we did it.”

The situation in South Korea remains fluid and filled with uncertainty, with questions of authority, loyalty, and the future of the nation's leadership still very much in the air.