The South Korean authorities have canceled this Friday the operation to detain and interrogate Yoon Suk-yeol, the president who decreed martial law at the beginning of December, due to the obstruction of his security service at his residence in Seoul.
This was reported by a spokesperson for the Office for Corruption Investigations of High-ranking Officials (CIO) to the media: the operation was canceled around 1:30 p.m. local time (4:30 GMT), after that 30 agents from this organization and 50 police officers faced the presidential security service for about three or four hours, who has refused to facilitate access to the interior of the home.
“It is impossible to execute the order”
“Regarding the execution of the arrest warrant today, in the face of the persistent deadlock, we have determined that it was virtually impossible to execute the order and we were concerned about the safety of the people on the ground due to the obstruction to carry it out,” the spokesperson explained in statements reported by the Yonhap agency.
The spokesperson explained that other measures will now be studied and added that they “deeply regret the attitude of the suspect, who did not comply with legal procedures.”
After passing a first military checkpoint on the perimeter of the compound, the team of CIO agents and police confronted the presidential security service, which refused to accept as valid the temporary arrest and search warrants obtained on Tuesday after Yoon ignored three subpoenas to testify in relation to his decision to declare martial law on December 3.
The president’s supporters gathered near his residence, around 1,200 according to the police, celebrated the news with cheers.
Almost 3,000 agents deployed
The police have deployed a large contingent that includes 2,700 officers on the ground in the vicinity of the presidential residence, located in the Hannam neighborhood of Seoul, to avoid altercations.
The Yoon’s lawyers have requested a court order to vacate the arrest warrant, arguing that only the Prosecutor’s Office can request that type of arrest, and they have insisted that it is “illegal” after learning that the authorities were inside the premises.
In case they can arrest him, the joint team made up of the CIO, the police and the Ministry of National Defense has 48 hours to interrogate Yoon and even request an order to extend the detention if they believe it is necessary.
Yoon, who has been prohibited from leaving the country, was dismissed by Parliament on December 14 and is waiting for the Constitutional Court to decide between now and June whether to reinstate him or permanently dismiss him.
Why the president declared martial law
As we said, it was at the beginning of last December when Suk Yeol decreed martial law throughout the country, a controversial movement that then triggered a wave of protests.
We are talking, therefore, about a measure that has not been seen for more than three decades and that generated an unprecedented political and social crisis. According to the president, the action is necessary to “eradicate pro-North forces” and guarantee the “freedom and happiness” of the population, and after suspecting that pro-Korean forces from the North are trying to decisively influence the country’s politics.
What does martial law mean
Martial law gives the military control over civilian functions, including security, media and individual liberties. Prohibited:
- Political activities, such as those of Parliament and political parties.
- Demonstrations and strikes, declaring public protests illegal.
- Fake news and manipulation of public opinion, putting the media under strict military supervision.
- Freedom of assembly and association, restricting citizen movements.
Violators can be arrested, detained and tried without a warrant, in accordance with Articles 9 and 14 of the country’s Martial Law.
Suk Yeol’s justification
The main opposition party, the Democratic Party (PD), which controls Parliament, approved a reduced budget at the end of last year and even presented motions to dismiss senior officials loyal to the president. They also began an intense campaign to Yoon resigned due to scandals involving his wife and his administration.
President Yoon justified the measure by arguing that Parliament had become a “monster that causes the collapse of the liberal system” and accused the PD of conspiring to overthrow the government. He also dismissed the threat from forces supposedly sympathetic to North Korea.
