Seoul: Investigators used ladders to enter the presidential residence compound Wednesday in their second attempt to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived imposition of martial law. As of 7:30 a.m., dozens of police officials had entered the compound in central Seoul and passed through a barricade to carry out warrants to detain Yoon and search his residence about 2 1/2 hours after they began their attempt.
According to Yonhap News Agency, investigators were initially blocked by the Presidential Security Service, which set up a barricade using vehicles near the entrance. They were also blocked by a group of lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party and Yoon's lawyers at the entrance. Some investigators appeared to attempt to secure access to the compound through a nearby hiking trail.
"This is not a just enforcement of the law," Yun Gap-geun, one of the lawyers, said, calling the investigators' attempt "illegal." Meanwhile, police aired broadcasts warning that any attempt to resist the warrants' execution could lead to arrest.
Large crowds gathered outside the residence, with police initially estimating that around 6,500 supporters of the impeached president were present. Police have deployed some 3,000 personnel to secure access to the compound, with physical clashes taking place between investigators and Yoon's supporters. Fire authorities arrived at the scene to treat a middle-aged woman on the ground.
Investigators failed to detain Yoon earlier this month after an hourslong standoff with his security staff at the residence where Yoon has been holed up since the National Assembly impeached him on Dec. 14. The Seoul Western District Court earlier issued the warrants against Yoon after he snubbed three summonses from investigators to appear for questioning over his failed attempt to impose martial law on Dec. 3. The warrants, which were granted extensions last week after they expired, will remain valid until Jan. 21.