South Korea's Suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol Faces Legal Showdown Amidst Ongoing Protests
Police officers and personnel from South Korea's anticorruption agency (CIO) have made yet another attempt to access the residence of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol, according to a report by Yonhap, South Korea's official news agency. This follows multiple failed attempts to arrest Yoon, whose supporters gathered early in the morning outside his home in Seoul.
The situation has escalated, as the Constitutional Court recently postponed the first hearing date in the impeachment proceedings against Yoon because he failed to appear. The 64-year-old former president communicated through his lawyer that his absence was due to security concerns.
Yoon's residence is fortified, surrounded by high walls and a barbed-wire fence, which has contributed to the difficulties faced by law enforcement in executing the arrest warrant. During this latest attempt, police encountered the military security service that protects Yoon's residence, which erected a barricade to prevent access. Reports indicate that the defense ministry denied any authorization for the military unit to grant access to police.
Despite the challenges, police and CIO officials remain determined to enforce the arrest warrant against the suspended president. The ongoing impeachment proceedings stem from Yoon's controversial decision to declare martial law briefly on December 3 amid a budget dispute with the opposition, which ultimately led to Parliament voting in favor of his impeachment.
As the situation unfolds, the Constitutional Court is scheduled to review the impeachment decision in the coming weeks. In addition to the impeachment, Yoon is also under investigation for alleged abuse of power and insurrection as a former prosecutor. The next hearing is set for Thursday, but concerns linger about whether Yoon will attend, as failing to appear could allow the proceedings to continue in his absence.
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