S. Korea presidential security chief says there must be ‘no bloodshed’ over Yoon arrest

SEOUL – South Korea’s presidential security chief said on Jan 10 there must be no bloodshed if investigators try again to execute an arrest warrant for impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol over his failed martial law bid.

He has refused questioning and last week resisted arrest in

a tense stand-off between his security team and investigators

after his

short-lived power grab

plunged the country into its worst political crisis in decades.

“I understand many citizens are concerned about the current situation where government agencies are in conflict and confrontation,” presidential security service chief Park Chong-jun told reporters on Jan 10.

“I believe that under no circumstances should there be physical clashes or bloodshed,” he added before being questioned at the Korean National Police Agency.

Investigators secured a new arrest warrant for Mr Yoon this week

after an initial seven-day order expired on Jan 6, with several hundred of his supporters braving sub-zero temperatures to rush to the presidential residence.

Rival protesters have either called for Mr Yoon’s impeachment to be declared invalid or for him to be detained immediately.

He would become the first sitting South Korean president to be arrested if investigators are able to detain him.

His legal team have said they will not comply with the current warrant.

The Corruption Investigation Office has declared that it would “prepare thoroughly” for the second arrest attempt. AFP