State crisis: Soldiers block the arrest of the president in South Korea

A military unit has prevented law enforcement in South Korea from arresting suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. This was reported by the South Korean news agency Yonhap, citing the police. The unit stopped the measure on the grounds of Yoon’s official residence, it said. The investigators from the Corruption Investigation Authority had previously stated that the operation to arrest the head of state, who has been temporarily removed from power, had begun.

Even before the action, it was suspected that the security service could thwart the prosecutors’ plans. Thousands of Yoon’s supporters had been protesting in front of the president’s official residence since New Year’s Day and blocking access for investigators.

The authorities want to question Yoon about the sudden declaration of martial law a month ago, which plunged the country into a state crisis. So far he has ignored three summonses from prosecutors.

Defense announces measures

Meanwhile, according to Yonhap, one of Yoon’s lawyers announced that they would take legal action against the “invalid” and “illegal” arrest order. The defense had already tried to obtain an interim injunction from the Constitutional Court against the order to arrest people for abuse of power and rioting, which a court had previously approved. The order is valid until Monday.

According to Yonhap, the investigators’ deployment at the weekend could be fraught with uncertainty, as more people might get in their way. However, it was said that if the deployment were only carried out on Monday, there might not be enough time because the deadline was approaching.