Authorities attempting arrest in ‘standoff with military unit’ – Yonhap
Investigating authorities are trying to arrest president Yoon, but are in a standoff with a military unit, Yonhap reports.
Key events
Some more detail now on investigators entering the residence and attempting to arrest Yoon, via AFP:
Corruption Investigation Office investigators including senior prosecutor Lee Dae-hwan were let through heavy security barricades to enter the residence to attempt to execute their warrant to detain Yoon, AFP reporters saw.
But they were “blocked by a military unit inside” after entering, the Yonhap news agency reported.
It had been unclear whether the Presidential Security Service, which still protects Yoon as the country’s sitting head of state, would comply with investigators’ warrants.
Members of his security team have previously blocked attempted police raids of the presidential residence, but it was not immediately clear which unit had blocked investigators on Friday.
Here is more from Yoon’s defence lawyer:
Yoon’s lawyer said Friday that investigators trying to detain the impeached leader were not acting lawfully, vowing to take further legal action against the move.
“The execution of a warrant that is illegal and invalid is indeed not lawful,” Yoon Kap-keun said, adding that “legal actions will be taken regarding the illegal execution of the warrant”.
Here a protester holds up a sign with messaging similar to that in the US – “Stop the Steal” – referring to false claims of election fraud.
Raphael Rashid
There are often American flags at pro-Yoon rallies in South Korea, including today.
This reflects a peculiar convergence of far-right Korean politics with American conservative symbolism. Yoon’s supporters, many from evangelical Christian backgrounds, have adopted US conservative imagery and rhetoric, viewing America as a bastion of their idealised version of a Christian democracy. They often wave US flags while accusing their opponents of being “pro-North Korean”.
Over the years, they have resorted to claims of election fraud, and have amplified this message since the martial law declaration to justify their resistance. It doesn’t help that Yoon himself has embraced this logic in defending his martial law declaration.
A recent poll showed that while only 29% of South Koreans believe claims of election fraud, this rises to 65% among Yoon’s party supporters.
Raphael Rashid
A woman gets on stage: “This country’s position is one protected by the Lord […] All media outlets, stop your false reporting. Our young students, our elementary school students, have all been ruined and are doing drugs”, she says.
She also continues to make unfounded claims of voting fraud.
“Ladies and gentlemen, President Yoon is truly remarkable. President Yoon’s achievements are remarkable. Everyone, please support President Yoon. I love President Yoon Suk Yeol,” she says. “And First Lady Kim Keon Hee, be confident”.
The Guardian’s Raphael Rashid is outside Yoon’s residence, typing with very, very cold fingers:
“It’s minus 3 degrees Celsius. Tea and snack stations have been set up for the protest group,” he says.
The Guardian’s Raphael Rashid is outside Yoon’s residence.
He reports: Huge police presence around Hangangjin Station, thousands of protesters are gathering here. They say Yoon is innocent and are repeating that “the election was rigged” referring to last April’s general election. While this rhetoric has always been around, and unfounded, it’s gained traction in recent weeks.
Here is a photograph of a Yoon supporter earlier on Friday:
Justin McCurry
Yoon’s defence lawyers say they will take legal action over the “illegal” execution of a warrant for his arrest, the Yonhap news agency is reporting.
Some journalists are expecting Yoon to arrive today – having been arrested – at the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, according to this Reuters photograph of them waiting outside:
Authorities attempting arrest in ‘standoff with military unit’ – Yonhap
Investigating authorities are trying to arrest president Yoon, but are in a standoff with a military unit, Yonhap reports.
Justin McCurry
The outcome of today’s attempted arrest of Yoon Suk Yeol could depend on the response of his presidential security service, which has blocked previous attempts to search his office. The legal and political stakes are higher, now, though.
While Yoon’s lawyers have refused to accept the arrest warrant – calling it “illegal and invalid – Friday’s dramatic developments place the security service in an unprecedented position.
Oh Dong-woon, the head of the Corruption Investigation Office, which is investigating Yoon on suspicion of insurrection, has warned that any attempt to block the execution of the warrant could amount to dereliction of duty and obstruction of official duties.
If Yoon is detained, the anti-corruption agency will have 48 hours to investigate him and either request a warrant for his formal arrest or release him, AFP reports. Yoon’s defense minister, police chief and several top military commanders have already been arrested over their roles in the martial law enactment.