He is referring to the stand off between investigators attempting to arrest Yoon and his Presidential Security Service (PSS).
This is the second attempt to arrest Yoon Investigators’ efforts to arrest Yoon follows a failed attempt at the start of this month, where officers found themselves in a dramatic six-hour standoff withsecurity.
Police and presidential security staff locked in standoff Shaimaa Khalil Reporting from Seoul This is a picture of the political crisis that South Korea finds itself in.
As it stands, police and CIO investigators are unable to get into the compound.
There are chants of “arrest Yoon”, mixed in with the songs Fire by Korean band BTS and APT by New Zealand and South Korean singer Rosé.
Investigators and Yoon’s side are reportedly negotiating.
The CIO is negotiating with Yoon’s attorneys about the possibility of “voluntarily appearing in front of the CIO,” according to Yoon’s close associate and lawyer, Seok Dong-hyun.
“I heard the attorneys had no choice but to negotiate with the CIO about this because there have been reports of citizens being hurt outside the residence and a possible conflict between the police and security personnel could cause further issues,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Investigators are reportedly negotiating with Yoon’s side.
The CIO is negotiating with Yoon’s attorneys about the possibility of “voluntarily appearing in front of the CIO,” according to Yoon’s close associate and lawyer, Seok Dong-hyun.
“I heard the lawyers had no choice but to negotiate with the CIO about this because there have been reports of citizens getting injured outside the residence and a potential clash between the police and security staff could cause further issues,” he wrote in a Facebook post.
Crowds have not been put off by the freezing temperatures.
Charlie Lee and Leehyun Choi.
writing from Seoul.
Even though the sun has risen and it is now 8:30 in Seoul, the South Korean capital is still freezing at -6 degrees Celsius.
Crowds of Yoon supporters and detractors have gathered despite this.
“Complete it as soon as possible, before commute hours,” say anti-Yoon demonstrators, who are anxiously awaiting the news of an arrest. As more squads of officers made their way to the main gate, we also witnessed them applauding the police.
In addition to chanting and giving speeches, Yoon’s supporters have also shown their support for the beleaguered leader by waving flags, placing flower wreaths—typically seen at weddings or other festivities—and other gestures.
Supporters of Yoon are currently congregating in far greater numbers than his detractors.
How did we find ourselves here?
The events that took place this morning are the result of nearly six weeks of political unrest in South Korea.
For the nation, this is completely unprecedented—it is the first time a sitting president has ever been arrested. This is a summary of how we got to this point.
When lawmakers voted to defeat the measure hours later, Yoon backed down from his shocking declaration of martial law in a late-night televised address on December 3.
All political factions quickly voiced their outrage, and on December 14, a second attempt by lawmakers to remove the president from office while he awaited trial was approved.
Police started looking into possible insurrection by Yoon and his supporters at the same time.
However, Yoon has resisted all requests to cooperate with the authorities, including to appear at his own impeachment trial, which was scheduled to start yesterday.
As a result, investigators claim they have no choice but to arrest him and have obtained court orders to do so.
However, Yoon, who is essentially helpless now that parliament has voted to remove him from office, used his security teams to block their first attempt at arrest earlier this month and is attempting to do so again today, which raises disturbing and important questions about who is in charge of this situation.
According to acting president Choi, conflict between state institutions is intolerable.
The public’s trust would be harmed by conflicts between state institutions, according to a statement made by acting President Choi Sang-mok.
He’s talking about the confrontation between Yoon’s Presidential Security Service (PSS) and investigators who are trying to arrest him.
Choi says that the execution of President Yoon’s arrest warrant has begun and characterizes it as a crucial time for upholding law and order.
He stresses the need for everyone to behave responsibly and with good judgment, and he says that those who break the law will face consequences.
Yoon is being attempted to be arrested for the second time.
The attempt by investigators to apprehend Yoon comes after a failed attempt earlier this month, during which officers were engaged in a dramatic six-hour standoff with security.
The large number of pro-Yoon supporters who had gathered outside his house before sunrise and the human wall of security personnel inside the building outnumbered the officers involved in the incident.
After Yoon disregarded three summonses to appear for questioning, police attempted to execute an arrest warrant issued on December 31.
When the politician attempted to impose martial law in early December, he was accused of abusing his position of authority and inciting an uprising.
There is a standoff between the presidential security staff and police.
Khalil Shaima.
reporting from Seoul. .
This image illustrates the political predicament that South Korea is currently facing.
The police, or law enforcement officials, are attempting to carry out a valid arrest warrant; the presidential security staff is obstructing them. These are the two branches of executive power.
Who exactly is in charge is called into question by this.
Both claim to be abiding by the law and following orders, but this only suggests that there may be conflicts between the two orders of power.
Despite all of this, the president has not yet been put on trial for impeachment.
In a sense, the South Korean public is watching two simultaneous crises unfold in real time: pro-Yoon protesters on one side and anti-Yoon protesters on the other.
Investigators are blocked by ruling party lawmakers.
Khalil Shaimaa.
from outside the presidential mansion, reporting.
Tensions have increased in front of the police barricade that leads to the presidential compound after lawmakers from the ruling party forced their way past the barricade and through a crowd of anti-Yoon demonstrators.
The Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) officers who have been outside the compound gate are being blocked by the lawmakers. They had defended their legal authority to make the arrest in their argument with the lawmakers.
In order to stop the investigators from presenting them with the arrest warrant, the lawmakers created a human wall.
Currently, the compound is inaccessible to CIO investigators and police.
The crowd’s anti-Yoon demonstrators are still yelling, “arrest him.”.
As demonstrators assemble close to the presidential compound, there is a heavy police presence.
Shaima Khalil.
reporting from Seoul. .
This is the closest point to the alleyway leading up to the presidential compound entrance; it’s much closer than it was the last time.
However, dozens of police are obstructing our view by limiting traffic near the compound.
Near the protesters, many of whom are wearing thermal blankets, are barricades in practically every direction.
“Arrest Yoon” chants are interspersed with the songs “Fire” by the Korean band BTS and “APT” by South Korean and New Zealand singer Rosé. Given that Yoon’s detractors believe his arrest is imminent, the atmosphere appears to be fairly upbeat.
Yoon supporters are also holding banners that read “stop the steal” in addition to US and Korean flags.
According to reports, police have increased their presence this time around, sending out roughly 1,000 officers.
