South Korean authorities enter the camp of President Yoon who is accused in an attempted arrest By Reuters

By Eduardo Baptista, Hyunsu Yim and Joyce Lee

SEOUL (Reuters) – Authorities entered South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s compound on Friday to execute an unprecedented arrest warrant, avoiding crowds of protesters outside. but they are facing the security forces of the president inside.

It was unclear whether the Presidential Security Service (PSS), which had barred investigators from entering Yoon’s office and legal residence with a search warrant, would try to prevent his arrest.

Yoon is under criminal investigation for treason in connection with his martial law trial on December 3 that shocked South Korea, Asia’s fourth-largest economy and one of the of the strongest democracies in the region.

The arrest would be the first for a sitting South Korean president.

Officials from the Corruption Perceptions Office (CIO), which is leading a joint investigative team that includes police and prosecutors, arrived at the gates of Yoon’s compound shortly after 7 a.m. (2200 GMT Thursday) . Reuters witnesses.

The CIO cars did not immediately enter the compound, in part because a bus was blocking the road.

Some of the CIO officers later entered the open gate on foot and passed the bus, but briefly confronted another bus and an armored car passing by on the road, before moving away.

Once inside the compound, the CIO and the accompanying police were confronted by lines of PSS workers, as well as military forces supported by the president’s security, the media reported. South Korea’s Ministry of Public Security said the troops were under the control of the PSS.

Yonhap news agency quoted the head of the PSS as saying that officials were not allowed to search Yoon’s residence.

Yoon’s lawyer said in a statement on Friday that the issuance of an invalid arrest warrant against Yoon is illegal, and they will take legal action, without elaborating.

Protesters gathered in the early hours of the morning near the residence, numbers growing into the hundreds amid media reports that investigating authorities will soon try to execute an arrest warrant. on Tuesday after Yoon refused an appearance summons.

“We have to stop them with our lives,” one was heard saying to the others.

Others chanted “President Yoon Suk Yeol will be protected by the people,” and called for the arrest of the CIO head.

Pyeong In-su, 74, said the police had to be stopped by “patriotic citizens”, a term Yoon uses to describe those standing near where he lives.

Holding a flag of the United States and South Korea with the words “Let’s walk together” in English and Korean, Pyeong said he hoped US President Donald Trump would help Yoon.

“I hope after Trump’s inauguration he can use his influence to help our country get back on the right track,” he said.

The current arrest warrant is valid until Jan 6, and gives investigators just 48 hours to arrest Yoon after he is arrested. Investigators must now decide whether to apply for an arrest warrant or release him.

Once arrested, Yoon is expected to be held at the Seoul Detention Center, Yonhap News Agency said, citing the CIO.

WONDERFUL MARTI’S LAW

Yoon sent shockwaves across the country with a late-night announcement on December 3 that he was imposing martial law to quell political tensions and root out “anti-national forces”.

However, within hours, 190 lawmakers had defied the military and police councils to vote against Yoon’s order. About six hours after his first order, Yoon deleted it.

He later issued a scathing defense of his decision, saying local political opponents were sympathetic to North Korea and citing unsubstantiated allegations of election tampering.

Kim Yong-hyun, who resigned as Yoon’s defense minister after playing a major role in martial law, was arrested and charged last week on charges of treason and misuse of power. strength.

Treason is one of the few criminal charges in which the South Korean president is not immune.

Yoon’s lawyers said the arrest warrant was illegal and invalid because the CIO had no authority under South Korean law to request a warrant.

Yoon has been sidelined since his impeachment and suspension on December 14.

Unlike the criminal investigation, his impeachment case is now before the Constitutional Court to decide whether to reinstate him or remove him permanently. A second hearing in the case is scheduled for later Friday.

(This story has been updated to correct a typo in paragraph 1)