One day after the failed arrest of impeached South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, the leaders of his security service refused to attend a police summons on Saturday.
According to the Yonhap news agency, the president’s security service explained that neither Park Chong Jun nor his deputy Kim Seong Hoon were able to leave their posts, with Yoon needing constant protection due to the tense situation.
The security service is in contact with the police to find another date for the interrogation, Yonhap added.
Dozens of investigators had tried for more than five and a half hours on Friday to detain Yoon for questioning following his imposition of martial law in early December.
However, a “wall” of around 200 members of the army and security services stood in the way of the authorities on the grounds of the president’s residence, Yonhap reported.
Lawmakers removed Yoon from office until further notice on charges of abuse of power and sedition in mid-December, with the Constitutional Court currently reviewing the decision.
Before the attempted arrest, he had ignored three summonses from the Corruption Investigation Bureau. The agency finally successfully applied to a court for his arrest.
The court order is still valid up to and including Monday, with the opposition demanding that it be enforced as quickly as possible.
The opposition also demanded that Park be arrested for abuse of power and obstruction of official duties. The security service in turn threatened the authorities with legal action for trespassing.
As Yonhap reported, investigators may attempt to detain Yoon again this weekend. If they succeed, they would have 48 hours to question Yoon and decide whether to release him or apply for a warrant for his arrest.
In Seoul, numerous supporters of Yoon have been demonstrating in front of the presidential residence for days. Opponents of the impeached president also protested in their thousands.