8th January 2025 – (Seoul) Authorities have confirmed they are monitoring President Yoon Suk Yeol’s location amid swirling rumours that he may have fled his official residence in the face of arrest threats related to his controversial martial law declaration.
A police spokesperson stated, “We cannot disclose the specifics of President Yoon’s location at this time. Our efforts to track him continue.” Yoon has reportedly remained largely confined to his residence in central Seoul since his impeachment by the National Assembly on 14th December, following his failed bid for martial law earlier that month.
Last Friday, police confirmed that Yoon was at home when they attempted to execute an arrest warrant. However, they withdrew five hours later after a standoff with security personnel from the Presidential Security Service (PSS). Sources indicate that he remained at his residence at least until earlier this week.
The speculation regarding Yoon’s possible flight intensified after Oh Dong-woon, head of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, commented during a parliamentary session that he had not received any updates on whether Yoon was still at his residence. When pressed about the possibility of Yoon having left, Oh replied, “We’re considering various options.”
In a Wednesday radio interview, Rep. Ahn Gyu-back from the main opposition Democratic Party claimed he had received information suggesting that Yoon had already vacated his residence and was now hiding in a “third location.” Ahn stated, “I was tipped off, and I understand the police have also assessed this information.”
The atmosphere surrounding the presidential compound remains charged, with both supporters and opponents of Yoon gathering to protest amid freezing temperatures. This follows a court’s re-issuance of an arrest warrant a day earlier.
The PSS has taken measures to reinforce security at the compound, erecting barricades and deploying buses to obstruct access to Yoon’s residence as he evades questioning.
Yoon is currently under investigation for insurrection due to his martial law attempts on 3rd December, which not only shocked the nation but also led to the unprecedented issuance of an arrest warrant for a sitting president. He is also embroiled in a separate trial at the Constitutional Court concerning his impeachment for violating constitutional duties during the emergency declaration.
Oh Dong-woon, who leads the ongoing investigation, expressed regret over a previous failed arrest attempt that ended in a tense six-hour standoff. He indicated that the team would be better prepared for the next attempt, stating, “We are determined to ensure that the execution of the second warrant will be the last.”
While discussing strategies to overcome the security measures in place, Oh did not rule out tougher actions against the presidential guards, although he did not provide specific details on the plans being considered. Local media have suggested the potential mobilisation of police special tactical units and heavy equipment to breach the barricades if necessary, with over 2,000 police officers poised to remove guards from the compound.
