Why is it so difficult to arrest the deposed president?

There were more than 100 police officers and they were armed with an extradition warrant – but the South Korean authorities failed to arrest suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol after a six-hour incident outside his home.

How long did the confrontation with Yoon’s security team take as they formed a human wall and used vehicles to block the way of the arrested team, according to local media.

It’s been an unprecedented month in South Korean politics – Yoon’s shocking but temporary military order was followed by a vote to impeach him. Then came the criminal investigation, his refusal to be questioned earlier this week, and the warrant for his arrest.

The far-right leader is still widely supported – with thousands turning up outside his home on Friday morning to protest his arrest.

But, by most accounts, Yoon is now a disgraced leader – impeached by parliament and suspended, pending a constitutional court ruling that could remove him from office.

So why did it seem so difficult for the police to arrest him?

Although Yoon has been stripped of his presidential powers – after lawmakers voted to impeach him – he is still entitled to access to security information.

And those men played a major role in preventing the arrests on Friday.

The presidential security service (PSS) was acting loyally to Yoon or under “a mistaken understanding of their legal and constitutional role”, said Mason Richey, an associate professor at Seoul’s Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

Given Yoon’s suspension, the PSS should take instructions from acting President Choi Sang-mok. “They may not have been ordered by Acting President Choi to come down, or they are refusing his orders,” said Assoc Prof Richey.

Some experts believe that security officials were showing “unconditional loyalty” to Yoon, rather than the office itself. They pointed out that PSS chief Park Jong-joon was appointed to this job by Yoon last September.

“It is possible that Yoon has infiltrated the organization with strong loyalists to prepare for this incident,” said US-based lawyer and Korea expert Christopher Jumin Lee.

And Park’s predecessor was defense minister Kim Yong-hyun, who is accused of advising Yoon to impose martial law. He is currently being held for questioning as part of a criminal investigation involving Yoon.

The “simple” solution, said Mr Lee, is for acting president Choi to order the PSS to stand down for the time being.

“If he doesn’t want to do that, that would be grounds to impeach him in the National Assembly,” he added.

Choi, who is the finance minister, stepped in to lead the country after lawmakers voted to censure Yoon’s first successor, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo.

This political upheaval also reflects the divide in South Korean politics – between those who support Yoon, and his decision to impose martial law, and those who oppose it. And the differences don’t end there.

Most South Koreans agree that Yoon’s declaration of martial law on Dec. 3 was wrong and that he needs to be held accountable, said Duyeon Kim, a senior official at the Center for American Security — but they disagree. accountability seems to be.

“The actors involved do not agree on the process, procedure and their legal basis, which creates political uncertainty,” he explained.

That uncertainty is creating tension similar to the one that happened on Friday inside and outside Yoon’s presidential palace, where his supporters have camped for days, leading to heated discussions and even clashes with the police.

Law enforcement could come back with more agents and use force but that would be “very dangerous,” Assoc Prof Mason said.

The PSS is also armed, so arresting officers will be looking to avoid any escalation.

“What happens if the police come up with other documents that authorize the arrest of PSS workers, [the PSS] don’t they ignore those warrants and take out their guns?” asked Mr Lee.

Police now say they are investigating the PSS director and his deputy for obstruction – so there may be more charges and arrest warrants to come.

Yoon’s controversial command of martial law is a challenge for the Corruption Investigations Office (CIO) which is investigating him.

It has only been in operation for four years. This was created in response to public anger over former president Park Geun-hye who was fired, removed from office and imprisoned for corruption.

Although South Korean presidents have been arrested before, Yoon is the first to be arrested before stepping down.

Investigators have until January 6 to arrest Yoon before the current warrant expires.

They may try to recapture Yoon over the weekend, though the weekend could prove to be a challenge if the fan base grows. They can also apply for a new warrant and try to lock him up again.

Given how far South Korea has come into uncharted territory, the uncertainty is likely to continue.

Additional reporting by Ewe Koh