In Seoul, South Korea, investigators faced a tense standoff at the presidential residence while attempting to arrest impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. This was their second attempt to detain him over his brief imposition of martial law. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials (CIO) and police arrived with search and detention warrants but were blocked by the Presidential Security Service (PSS), which used vehicles to barricade the entrance.
A group of lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party and Yoon's legal team also obstructed the investigators. Police warned that resisting the warrants could lead to arrest. Approximately 6,500 supporters of Yoon gathered outside, while police deployed around 3,000 officers to manage the situation.
The Seoul Western District Court issued warrants for Yoon after he ignored three summonses for questioning about his martial law attempt on December 3. These warrants, extended last week, remain active until January 21. Yoon was impeached in December 2024 by the National Assembly, with a vote of 204 to 85, for his attempt to impose martial law. After impeachment, Yoon was suspended from office.
A standoff is a situation where two groups are in a conflict or disagreement, and neither side is willing to back down or give in.
The presidential residence is the official home where the President of a country lives and works. In South Korea, it is known as the Blue House.
Impeached means that a government official, like a president, is accused of doing something wrong and is put on trial to decide if they should be removed from their position.
Yoon Suk Yeol is a political leader in South Korea who was serving as the President before being impeached.
Martial law is when the military takes control of the government and enforces laws, usually during emergencies or when there is a lot of unrest.
The Corruption Investigation Office is a special group in South Korea that looks into cases where government officials might be involved in illegal activities or corruption.
The Presidential Security Service is a group responsible for protecting the President and the presidential residence, similar to bodyguards.
The National Assembly is the group of people in South Korea who make laws, similar to the Parliament in India.
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