South Korea is currently facing a significant political crisis as impeachment proceedings have commenced against suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon, who is evading arrest for a separate criminal investigation, has been holed up in his fortified residence, sparking widespread public outrage and protests following his declaration of martial law in December.
Despite being stripped of his presidential powers last month, Yoon has refused to attend the first formal hearing in his impeachment trial, citing safety concerns. He is wanted for questioning in multiple investigations, including allegations of leading an insurrection, a crime punishable by life imprisonment or the death penalty.
Yoon's supporters fear his detention if he leaves his residence, leading to tensions between rival protesters calling for his arrest and those protecting him. The country's Constitutional Court holds the power to decide Yoon's political fate, with oral arguments for his trial scheduled to start on Tuesday.
The embattled leader's security team, the Presidential Security Service (PSS), has been accused of acting as his personal bodyguards, making it challenging to execute the arrest warrant. There is confusion over which agency has jurisdiction to carry out the warrant, with Yoon's lawyers accusing the police of complicity in an 'illegal arrest and abuse of power.'
Efforts to detain Yoon have been met with resistance, including a dramatic standoff between police and his security detail. Barbed wire has been erected around his compound to prevent further attempts to arrest him.
The country awaits the Constitutional Court's decision on whether Yoon will be formally removed from his position or reinstated. The court has up to 180 days to uphold or reject the impeachment vote, with Yoon's trial set to continue until February 4.
