By Hyunsu Yim and Ju-min Park

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean authorities investigating impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol tried to enter his residence on Wednesday morning in a brand new bid to arrest him over revolt accusations associated to his Dec. 3 martial legislation declaration.

Video footage confirmed tons of of cops, some carrying ladders and wire cutters, marching up the highway resulting in his hillside villa, the place Yoon has been holed up for weeks guarded by a small military of non-public safety.

The investigators arrested the appearing head of Yoon’s presidential safety service, which blocked a earlier try and arrest him on Jan. 3, Yonhap Information Company reported.

As native information broadcasters reported that Yoon’s detention could come quickly, some minor scuffles broke out between tearful pro-Yoon protesters and police close to the residence, in keeping with a Reuters witness on the scene.

Police stated they’d deployed 3,200 officers to Yoon’s residence to execute the arrest on Wednesday, the place tons of of pro-Yoon protesters and members of his Individuals Energy Social gathering had additionally gathered earlier than daybreak in sub-zero temperatures.

“As I have repeatedly emphasized the need for prevention of physical conflict between state agencies … I will sternly hold those responsible if unfortunate events occur,” Performing President Choi Sang-mok stated in an announcement on Wednesday.

Yoon’s declaration of martial legislation shocked South Koreans and plunged one among Asia’s most vibrant democracies into an unprecedented interval of political turmoil.

The arrest warrant is the primary ever issued in opposition to an incumbent South Korean president. Yoon’s attorneys have argued the makes an attempt to arrest him are unlawful and designed to publicly humiliate him.

Individually, the Constitutional Court docket is deliberating over whether or not to uphold a vote by lawmakers to question Yoon and completely take away him from workplace.

‘NO PLACE TO RUN’

The most recent arrest try gripped the nation with tons of of hundreds glued to South Korean broadcasters’ stay feeds on YouTube since earlier than daybreak.

Officers from the anti-corruption unit main the investigation arrived close to the residence at 4 a.m. (1900 GMT).

By then there already have been tons of of pro-Yoon protesters, some wrapped in foil blankets and others waving flags bearing “Stop the Steal” slogans referring to Yoon’s unsubstantiated claims of election fraud – one of many causes he gave to justify his short-lived martial legislation declaration.

“If the president is arrested, I will be heartbroken,” stated Jang Kyoung-sun, 64, a Yoon supporter who had travelled from japanese Gangwon province to Seoul to protest his arrest.

“He declared martial law truly for the nation and the people.”

The opposition Democratic Social gathering, which holds a majority in parliament after a landslide legislative election victory final 12 months, issued an announcement calling on Yoon to adjust to the arrest.

“There is no place to run anymore,” the celebration stated.

Cho Solar-ah, 51, was amongst one other contingent of individuals rallying close to his residence in help of authorities’ makes an attempt to arrest Yoon.

“I don’t think it is right for the leader of an insurrection to stick it out like that despite the issuance of an arrest warrant without facing any punishment. The law should be equal for everyone and this isn’t right even if it’s the president,” he stated.

Yoon’s attorneys have stated the arrest warrant is prohibited as a result of it was issued by a court docket within the improper jurisdiction and the group set up to research him had no authorized mandate to take action.

The group executing the arrest warrant – made up of the Corruption Investigation Workplace for Excessive-ranking Officers (CIO) and the police – secured a re-issued warrant on Jan. 7 and has held a number of conferences with Yoon’s private safety in a bid to make sure a profitable execution.

Oh Dong-woon, head of the CIO main the investigation, has stated authorities would do no matter it takes to carry Yoon into custody.