Earlier, the police said the investigators were also in a standoff with a military unit before confronting the security service.
The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) has until Monday to execute the detention warrant on charges of insurrection and abuse of power linked to Yoon’s short-lived imposition of martial law on Dec. 3
.About 20 officers marched to the presidential residence at about 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT) with that number reinforced to about 80 an hour later, say BBC reporters at the scene
Yoon’s lawyer says they will challenge the “unlawful” arrest warrant and his presidential security forces are reportedly blocking the attempt to take him into custody
A court issued the warrant earlier this week against Yoon after he refused to answer summons to appear before officials investigating him for abusing his power and inciting an insurrection
Yoon was suspended from duties on 14 December after lawmakers voted to impeach him, but he can only be removed from office if this is upheld by the country’s constitutional court
Rallies by Yoon’s supporters outside the presidential residence, however, have complicated the CIO’s effort, along with the potential for clashes with the Presidential Security Service.
Thousands of supporters have gathered near the residence in recent days to oppose Yoon’s impeachment and block his arrest. Some have been forcibly dispersed by the police and carried away by their limbs.
Observers said executing the warrant on Saturday or Sunday could risk confronting even larger crowds, while executing it Monday would be too close to the deadline.
Police forces are on standby outside impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol’s residence to prepare for possible clashes between Yoon supporters and investigators who came to detain Yoon, Seoul, Jan. 3. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
