South Korean officials are making new efforts to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol

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South Korean investigators have launched a new attempt to arrest ousted president Yoon Suk Yeol in connection with his failed move to impose martial law in the country last month.

The operation, which began shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday, is the second attempt this month by South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Bureau to make an arrest. Yoon for questions about treason and misuse of office fees.

An initial attempt by investigators to arrest Yoon at his presidential residence earlier this month was thwarted by his security officers after a standoff. waiting for long hours.

Footage broadcast on South Korean television on Wednesday appeared to show police clashing with pro-Yoon protesters outside the compound, where he has been held for several weeks.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, police and CIO officials arrived at the site and issued a warrant for Yoon’s arrest, but were denied entry by the presidential security service, which remained faithful to him.

Yonhap also reported that about 30 lawmakers from Yoon’s People Power party were at the center and tried to prevent officials from entering it.

“There are clashes between the Corruption Investigation Bureau, the police and the presidential security service in front of the presidential palace, and there are fierce clashes between Yoon’s supporters and the police,” the leader of People Power party Kweon Seong-dong told reporters. outside the country’s national assembly.

“Executing an arrest warrant . . . it is not worthy of the dignity of Korea or honoring the current president.”

Police said they are still looking to issue an arrest warrant for Kim Seong-hoon, deputy head of Yoon’s presidential security team.

Yoon remains South Korea’s head of state as the country’s constitutional court deliberates whether to accept his impeachment following a vote in favor of the resolution at a national assembly last month.

The court held its first legal hearing on Yoon’s impeachment on Tuesday, but the meeting lasted only four minutes because the suspended president did not attend, citing concerns for his safety.

Efforts by the CIO and the police to detain Yoon for questioning are related to a separate criminal investigation related to his failure to comply with martial law.

Yoon’s lawyers have insisted that the CIO does not have the standing to pursue criminal treason charges against him, warning last week that a police attempt to break into the president’s computer could lead to “a war of home”.