South Korean leader avoids arrest as his security forces block police

South Korea's political crisis took a dramatic turn yesterday when investigators were forced to abandon efforts to arrest the impeached president, Yoon Suk Yeol, over his attempt last month to impose martial law.

- Justin McCurry Osaka Raphael Rashid Seoul

A tense standoff with his security forces unfolded on a freezing winter's day in Seoul, as an estimated 1,200 Yoon supporters gathered outside his official residence. Up to 150 police and other officials attempted to execute an arrest warrant, the first for a sitting South Korean president, over allegations that his declaration of martial law in December amounted to an insurrection.

But hours after they entered the presidential compound in Seoul, anti-corruption officials said they were halting efforts to detain Yoon.

Local media reported that the officials, leading a joint team of police and prosecutors, had entered the compound to find themselves blocked by troops under the control of the presidential security service.

"Regarding the execution of the arrest warrant today, it was determined that the execution was effectively impossible due to the ongoing standoff," the Corruption Investigation Office said in a statement.

"Concern for the safety of personnel on-site led to the decision."

The investigators' office said it would discuss further action but did not immediately say whether it would make another attempt to detain Yoon. The warrant for his detention will expire on Monday.

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, is set to arrive in South Korea on Monday for talks.

The Yonhap news agency said the team comprised 30 people from the anti-corruption office and 120 police, 70 of whom were initially waiting outside the residence compound.

Having managed to find a way past the troops, officials were confronted by other security service staff.