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South Korean investigators sought to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol as part of an investigation into alleged treason and abuse of power following his failed attempt last month to impose martial law.
The Office of Corruption Investigation for Senior Officials announced early Friday local time that it had begun executing the arrest warrant Yoon.
A team of officers from the bureau entered Yoon’s residence in central Seoul, television footage showed, with nearly 3,000 police officers present in the area.
If arrested, Yoon will be the first sitting South Korean president to be detained.
Yoon triggered an acute political crisis in the South Korea with his failed attempt to impose martial law.
Parliament impeached him last month, but the move must be approved by the country’s constitutional court.
An independent agency is expected to question Yoon about a possible rebellion after he reportedly sent troops into the national assembly in an attempt to prevent lawmakers from rejecting his short-lived martial law decree.
On Wednesday, Yoon sent a letter to hundreds of his supporters who gathered outside his residence.
“The country is in danger because of anti-state forces. I will fight to the end to protect the nation together with you,” he said in the letter.
This is a developing story.
