Official announcement from the South Korean government or major news outlets

South Korea Suspends Arrest of President Yoon After Two-Hour Standoff

Jan 3, 2025, 04:37 AM

South Korean authorities have suspended the execution of an arrest warrant against President Yoon Suk Yeol after facing resistance from the presidential security forces and concerns over personnel safety. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) began the process early in the morning on January 3, three days after the warrant was issued on charges related to internal unrest. The attempt led to a standoff lasting over two hours outside the presidential residence in Hannam-dong. President Yoon's legal team argued that the arrest warrant was illegal and invalid, and the Presidential Security Service resisted the CIO's actions, leading to the practical impossibility of executing the warrant. At 1:30 PM, the CIO officially suspended the execution, citing safety concerns for personnel on site. Leaders from the ruling People Power Party welcomed the suspension and called for restraint in treating the sitting president. This marks the first time in South Korean history that a sitting president has faced an attempted arrest.