High drama as standoff prevents South Korean leader’s arrest

As detectives attempted to arrest Yoon Suk Yeol on Friday, they were greeted by a wall of armed guards inside South Korea’s presidential compound and fervent right-wing fans outside.

After imposing martial law, which parliament quickly overturned but which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant, the South Korean president was suspended and impeached last month.

Since then, he has been walled up in the presidential palace with scores of fervent fans and dozens of devoted security guards.

Police officers in their thousands, hordes of journalists, and the impeached president’s fanatical supporters waving national flags and placards swarmed around the compound Friday as investigators arrived in a five-car convoy to carry out the warrant.

But a bus blocked the entrance to a road to the compound where Yoon’s residence sits on a hill, forcing them the rest of the way by foot.

When they entered through heavy security gates after delicate negotiations, Yoon’s supporters — some who had camped overnight in tents — spewed vitriol.
Others vowed to “protect” their president, played traditional music and chanted that Yoon’s “impeachment is invalid”.

According to one investigator, after entering the facility, detectives encountered Yoon-aligned security guards who had constructed the house with several layers.

Scuffles between the opposing groups are said to have broken out during the tense hours-long stalemate that ended early Friday afternoon.

“At that point, moving forward directly was impossible, so we detoured via a side mountain path,” an official from the investigation team said.
The frustrated team faced obstacle after obstacle before meeting the final defense — 200 presidential security guards and soldiers linking arms.