REPORT: Agents Try To Forcibly Remove South Korea’s Impeached President From His Own Home In 6-Hour Standoff

The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) told the press it suspended the effort to enforce an arrest warrant against the impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol at his official residence at about 1:30 p.m. local time (11:30 p.m. Jan. 2 Eastern Time), South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported.

Lawmakers then impeached Yoon on Dec. 14, alleging that he had staged a rebellion, and an arrest warrant went out Tuesday, Politico reported. Yoon’s lawyers challenged the warrant in court Thursday.

“We express serious regret over the behavior of the suspect who refused to comply with legally set procedures,” the CIO told the press.

The presence of over 1,000 pro-Yoon protesters also complicated the CIO’s attempt, according to the outlet. Law enforcement estimated that the number swelled to 11,000 by the time the incident came to a close. The crowd cheered the outcome, yelling “we won” and the name of the president while flying South Korean and U.S. flags, the outlet reported.

The prosecutors met with two of Yoon‘s attorneys, who alleged that the arrest warrant was illegal and that the CIO had no authority to investigate allegations of insurrection.

The PSS or military allowed three CIO prosecutors to reach the door of the residence but the prosecutors could not tell if Yoon was inside as they were not allowed in, the official said, Yonhap reported.

Martial law would have seen the military temporarily suspend political institutions and individual liberties, including freedom of assembly and the press, the AP reported. The power is a holdover from the post-Korean War decades of dictatorships in South Korea.

Yoon declared martial law on Dec. 3, or 10:29 p.m. Tuesday in local time, according to The Associated Press (AP). He claimed that his political opponents were “sympathizing with North Korea” and speaking of “anti-state activities.” (RELATED: Legislators Defy Martial Law Declaration After South Korean President Vows To ‘Eradicate Pro-North Korean Forces’)

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